HRISIIAIN LIFE AND; SE.RVIE

tVrsioST

1"1 5'.-FIRS,V,OLIARtER

INDIVIDUAL SABBATH SCHOOL OFFERING GOAL

"As God hath prospered him"

MY WEEKLY GOAL (Check

Amount)

$5.00

RECORD

2.00

Birthday

1.50

"God loveth a

cheerful giver"

1.00

Investment

.50

.40

TOTAL

DAILY LESSON STUDY PLEDGE

As one who greatly desires to improve his knowledge of the Scriptures, I pledge my-

self to the careful and prayerful study of some portion of my Sabbath school lesson each

day of the week.

Name

Place a check mark in each space below for the days you have studied.

STUDY RECORD



1st Day's Study

2c1 Day's Study

3rd Day's Study

4th Day's Study

5th Day's Study

6th Day's Study

7th Day's Study

"Let the Sabbath school lesson be learned, not by a hasty glance at the lesson scrip-

ture on Sabbath morning, but by careful study for the next week on Sabbath afternoon,

with daily review or illustration during the week.



Thus the lesson will become fixed in

the memory, a treasure never to be wholly lost."—"Education," pages 251, 252.

Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly, No. 235, January-March, 1954. 15 cents a single copy, 50 cent

a year, in U. S. A. ; 15 cents a single copy, 60 cents a year, in Canada and foreign countries. Pub

lished in the U. S. A. by Pacific Press Publishing Association (a corporation of S. D. A.), Mountain

View, California. Entered as second-class matter Oct. 13, 1904, at the post office in Mountain View,

California, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of

postage

provided for in Section 1103, Act of Oct. 3, 1917, and authorized Sept. 18, 1918.

1953,

by Pacific Press Publishing Association

Printed in U. S. A.

COVER; STANDARD PUB. CO

Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly

CHRISTIAN LIFE AND SERVICE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

The most powerful argument for Chris-

tianity is a loving and lovable Christian, one

who knows what the Bible says about him

and who lives out that instruction in his

everyday life. The world is looking for such

people, is expecting much from them, and

is disappointed when realization falls short

of expectation. This series of Sabbath-school

lessons on

Christian Life and Service

is de-

signed to set forth the instruction of the

Bible and the spirit of prophecy on various

phases of the Christian life.

One or more main texts in bold-faced type

follow each question. These contain the an-

swer. Frequently, however, supplementary

texts are added in italics for those who wish

to look up others that have a bearing on the

subject.

Lesson 1, for January 2, 1954

God Is Fitting Men for His Eternal Kingdom

MEMORY VERSE:

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner

of persons ought ye,to be in all holy conversation and godliness?" 2 Peter 3:11.

STUDY HELPS:

"The Great Controversy," pages 647-650 (new ed., pp. 637-643);

"Christ's Object Lessons," pages 283, 416-419 (new ed., pp. 285, 426-429).

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: General survey

of the lesson, based on outline.

Memorize 2 Peter 3:11; Key Thought;

Ques. 1-3.

Ques. 4-6.

Ques. 7-9.

Ques. 10-12.

Read study helps assignment; Con-

clusions and Convictions.

Review the entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

I. A Better World to Come

Strangers and pilgrims here.

Looking for a better country.

A glimpse of that better land.

The kind of people God wants in His

kingdom.

II. As God Sees Mankind

1. Only two

classes.

The two classes contrasted.

God's plea to His people.

III. The Need of Self-Examination

Let a man examine himself.

Seeing ourselves as God sees us.

Looking to God for help.

Preparation for the kingdom of God.

Key Thought:

"The Lord is fitting a people for heaven.

[3]

The defects of character, the stubborn will,

the selfish idolatry, the indulgence of fault-

finding, hatred, and contention, provoke the

wrath of God and must be put away from

His commandment-keeping people. Those

living in these sins are deceived and blinded

by the wiles of

Satan."—Testimonies,

vol. 4,

p. 180.

THE LESSON

A Better World to Come

What contrasting attitudes

should we maintain toward the king-

dom of God and toward this world,

and for what reason? Matt. 6:33;

1 John 2:15

17.

Compare 2 Peter 3:10.

Like Abraham, for what is the

Christian to look, and with what as-

surance? Heb. 11:10, 14, 16.

Com-

pare Dan. 7:18, 22, 27.

What glimpses of that better

land are given by' Isaiah and John?

Isa. 65:17-19, 21, 22; Rev. 21:1-4.

Compare Isa. 11:6-9; 33:24; 35:1, 2,

5-10; 66:22, 23; Rev. 21:10-13, 21-33.

NoTE.—"In the Bible the inheritance of

the saved is called a country. There the

heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to foun-

tains of living waters. The tree of life yields

its fruit every month, and the leaves of the

tree are for the service of the nations. There

are ever-flowing streams, clear as crystal,

and beside them waving trees cast their

shadows upon the paths prepared for the

ransomed of the Lord. There the wide-

spreading plains swell into hills of beauty,

and the mountains of God rear their lofty

summits. On those peaceful plains, beside

those living streams, God's people, so long

pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home."

—The Great Controversy,

page 675 (1950

ed., p. 665).

What kind of people does God

want in His kingdom? Matt. 5:3, 5;

Ps. 24:3

Compare Rom. 14:17;

1 Cor. 6:9-11; Eph. 5:1-7; 1 Peter 1:16.

NOTE.—

A man is estimated at his true

value by the Lord of heaven. If he is un-

kind in his earthly home, he is unfit for the

heavenly home. If he will have his own way,

no matter whom it grieves, he would not

be content in heaven, unless he could rule

there."—Mrs. E. G. White, in

Review and

Herald,

Feb. 21, 1888.

As God Sees Mankind

In the judgment, into how many

classes does God divide mankind?

Matt. 25:31-33;

Ps. 11:4-7.

NoTEs.—"There are only two classes in

the world today, and only two classes will

be recognized in the judgment,—those who

violate God's law, and those who obey it.

Christ gives the test by which to prove our

loyalty or disloyalty."—Christ's

Object Les-

sons,

page 283 (new ed., p. 285).

"The eternal God has drawn the line of

distinction between the saints and the sin-

ners, the converted and the unconverted.

The two classes do not blend into each other

imperceptibly, like the colors of the rainbow.

They are as distinct as midday and mid-

night."—Testimonies to Ministers,

page 87.

(See also pages 133, 139; and

The Desire of

Ages,

page 763.)

How are these two classes con-

trasted? Ps. 15:1, 2; 9:17.

NOTE:—"Those who receive Christ by

faith as their personal Saviour cannot be in

harmony with the world. There are two

distinct classes: One is loyal to God, keep-

[ 4 ]

CITIZENSH

REQUIREM

ENT

oar 600s cowm"'c's

PEAK

The

PARE

:„

ove



•

Fou_ow



ing His commandments, while the other

talks and acts like the world, casting away

the word of God, which is truth, and ac-

cepting the words of the apostate, who re-

jected

Jesus."—Testimonies to Ministers,

page 139.

For further study:

The Saints

Work righteousness. Ps. 15:2.

Speak the truth. Ps. 15:2.

Clean hands. Ps. 24:4.

Pure hearts. Ps. 24:4.

Keep tongues from evil. Ps. 34:13.

Depart from evil. Ps. 34:14.

Do good to all men. Ps. 34:14.

Cease from anger. Ps. 37:8.

Manifest love, joy, peace, long-suffering,

gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,

temperance. Gal.

5:22,

23.

Forbear one another, kind, tenderhearted,

forgiving. Eph. 4:32.

Behave wisely in a perfect way. Ps.

101:2, 3.

The Sinners

Say, "There is no God." Ps. 14:1.

Plot against the just. Ps. 37:12.

Commit adultery, fornication, unclean-

ness, etc. Gal. 5:19.

Full of hatred, variance, wrath, strife,

envyings, murders, drunkenness, revel-

ings. Gal. 5:20, 21.

Lying, anger, stealing, bitterness, clamor,

evilspeaking, malice, covetousness, filth-

iness, foolish talking. Eph. 4:25, 31.

Whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, de-

ceitful, proud, boasters. Rom. 1:29, 30.

Inventors of evil things, disobedient to

parents, without natural affection,

unmerciful, unbelieving, abominable,

liars. Rom. 1:30, 31.

Of the two ways the Lord has

set before His people, which does

He plead with us to choose? Deut.

30:15, 19.

NOTE.—"God had set before Israel 'life

and death, blessing and cursing ;' and how

repeatedly they had been urged to choose

the way of life, that they might become a

praise in the earth, a blessing to all nations."

—Prophets and Kings,

page 393.

The Need of Self-Examination

What earnest counsel is given

with reference to,our personal experi-

ence? 2, Cor. 13:5; Lam. 3:40.

NOTE:—"There must be persevering effort

to overcome selfishness and self-confidence.

Self-examination must be thorough, that

there be no danger of self-deception. A

little catechizing of self on special occasions

is not sufficient. Daily examine the founda-

tion of your hope, and see whether you are

indeed in the love of Christ. Deal truly

with your own hearts, for you cannot af-

ford to run any risk here. Count the cost of

being a wholehearted Christian, and then

gird on the armor. Study the Pattern; look

to Jesus, and be like Him. Your peace of

mind, your hope of eternal salvation, de-

pends on faithfulness in this work. As

Christians we are less thorough in self-ex-

amination than in anything else ; it is no

wonder, then, that we make such slow ad-

vancement in understanding

self."—Testi-

monies, vol.

5, pp. 332, 333.

How does unregenerate man ap-

peal before God? Ps. 14:2, 3;

Isa. 64:6.

10.

To whom shall we turn for

help? Isa. 45:22;

17:7; Lam. 5:21.

[

]

NOTE

: —"Come with your whole heart to

Jesus. Repent of your sins, make confes-

sion to God, forsake all iniquity, and you

may appropriate to yourself all His prom-

ises. 'Look unto Me, and be ye saved,' is

His gracious invitation.

"The day will come when the awful de-

nunciation of God's wrath will be uttered

against all who have persisted in their dis-

loyalty to Him. This will be when God

must speak and do terrible things in right-

eousness against the transgressors of His

law. But you need not be among those who

will come under the wrath of God. It is now

the day of His salvation. The light from the

cross of Calvary is now shining forth in

clear, bright rays, revealing Jesus, our Sac-

rifice for

sin."—Testimonies, vol.

5, pp. 634,

635.

11. What shall we do to be right

with God? Job 22:21; John 17:3.

NOTE.—"Through the knowledge of God

and of His Son Jesus Christ, are given to

the believer 'all things that pertain unto

life and godliness.' No good gift is with-

held from him who sincerely desires to ob-

tain the righteousness of God.

" 'This is life eternal,' Christ said, 'that

they might know Thee the only true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.'

. : . Scarcely can the human mind com-

prehend the breadth and depth and height

of the spiritual attainments of him who

gains this knowledge.

"None need fail of attaining, in his

sphere, to perfection of Christian character.

By the sacrifice of Christ, provision has

been made for the believer to receive all

things that pertain to life and godliness.

God calls upon us to reach the standard of

perfection, and places before us the ex-

ample of Christ's character. In His human-

ity, perfected by a life of constant resistance

of evil, the Saviour showed that through

co-operation with Divinity, human beings

may in this life attain to perfection of

character. This is God's assurance to us

that we too may obtain complete victory."

—The Acts of the Apostles,

page 531.

12. In view of the coming destruc-

tion of the world, to what admonition

should we give heed? 2 Peter

3:11

14.

Conclusions and Convictions

"We can be fitted for heaven only

through the work of the Holy Spirit upon

the heart. . . . It is the work of the Holy

Spirit to elevate the taste, to sanctify the

heart, to ennoble the whole man."—Mrs. E.

G. White, in

Review and Herald,

vol. 69,

No. 43.

"The life of Christ on earth was a per-

fect expression of God's law, and when

those who claim to be children of God be-

come Christlike in character, they will be

obedient to God's commandments. Then the

Lord can trust them to be of the number

who shall compose the family of heaven."—

Christ's Object Lessons,

page 315 .(new ed.,

p. 321).

It is our chief business in life to permit

the Lord to remove all sinful traits from our

lives and by His grace to cultivate a Christ-

like character.

This transformation in character must

be done for us here and now.

Only by examination of our hearts, and

daily co-operation with the Holy Spirit, can

we be fitted for the society of angels and the

redeemed.

Lesson 2, for January 9, 1954

How a Sinner Becomes a Saint

MEMORY VERSE:

"For

He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that

we might be made the righteousness of God

in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21.

STUDY HELPS:

"Prophets and Kings," pages 486,

487, 586-592; "The Desire of

Ages," pages 309, 310; "Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing," page 34.

[

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: General survey

of the lesson, based on outline.

Key thought; Ques. 1-4.

Ques. 5-8.

Read selections from study helps.

Ques. 9-12.

Ques. 13, 14; Conclusions and Con-

victions.

Review the entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

I. The Sinner Lost in Sin

Sin separates from God.

Man born in sin.

The sinner described.

The wages of sin.

II. The Sinner's Need of a Saviour

The cry of the convicted sinner's

heart.

Jesus is man's Saviour.

The gospel of Christ.

Saved by grace through faith.

III. Imputed Righteousness

Man's first duty.

Conditions of entrance into God's

kingdom.

Man's only hope.

Results of imputed righteousness.

IV. Imparted Righteousness

Sanctification.

Obtained through faith.

Key Thought:

"All who would enter the City of God

must during their earthly life set forth

Christ in their dealings. It is this that con-

stitutes them the messengers of Christ, His

witnesses. They are to bear a plain, decided

testimony against all evil practices, pointing

sinners to the Lamb of God, who taketh

away the sin of the world. He gives to all

who receive Him, power to become the sons

of God. Regeneration is the only path by

which we can enter the City of God. It is

narrow, and the gate by which we enter is

strait, but along it we are to lead men and

women and children, teaching them that in

order to be saved, they Must have a new

heart and a new spirit. The old, hereditary

traits of character must be overcome. The

natural desires of the soul must be changed.

All deception, all falsifying, all evilspeaking,

must be put away. The new life, which

makes men and women Christlike, is to be

lived."-Testimonies,

vol. 9, p. 23.

THE LESSON

The Sinner Lost in Sin

What alone separates man from

God? Isa. 59:1, 2;

Hab. 1:13, first part.

How do men come by a sinful

nature? Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12.

How are sinners described? Isa.

59:3-8; Rom. 1:18, 28-32.

What is the end result of sin?

Rom. 6:23;

James 1:14, 15.

NOTES.

-"Man

was originally endowed

with noble powers and a well-balanced mind.

He was perfect in his being, and in harmony

with God. His thoughts were pure, his aims

holy.

But

through disobedience, his powers

were perverted, and selfishness took the

place of love. His nature became so weak-

ened through transgression that it was im-

possible for him, in his own strength, to

resist the power of evil. He was made cap-

tive by Satan, and would have remained so

forever had not God specially interposed. It

was the tempter's purpose to thwart the

divine plan in man's creation, and fill the

earth with woe and desolation. And he

would point to all this evil as the result

[

ONLY ANT1DOTE

FOR

--- SIN IS THE

GOSPEL.

of God's work in creating

man."—Steps to

Christ,

page 19.

"In his sinless state, man held joyful com-

munion with Him 'in whom are hid all the

treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' But

after his sin, he could no longer find joy in

holiness, and he sought to hide from the

presence of God. . . . The sinner could

not be happy in God's presence; he would

shrink from the companionship of holy be-

ings. Could he be permitted to enter heaven,

it would have no joy for him. . . . His

thoughts, his interests, his motives, would be

alien to those that actuate the sinless dwell-

ers there. He would be a discordant note in

the melody of heaven. Heaven would be to

him a place of torture.... They are shut out

by their own unfitness for its companion-

ship."—Ibid.,

pp. 19, 20.

The Sinner's Need of a Saviour

5. When the sinner realizes his

helpless condition, what is the cry of

his heart? Rom.

7:24; Ps. 51:1, 2, 10.

NoTE.—"By sin we have been severed

from the life of God. Our souls are palsied.

Of ourselves we are no more capable of

living a holy life than was the impotent man

capable of walking. There are many who

realize their helplessness, and who long for

that spiritual life which will bring them into

harmony with God; they are vainly striv-

ing to obtain it. In despair they cry, '0

wretched man that I am ! who shall deliver

me from this body of death ?' Rom. 7:24,

margin. Let these desponding, struggling

ones look up. The Saviour is bending over

the purchase of His blood, saying with in-

expressible tenderness and pity, 'Wilt thou

be made whole ?' He bids you arise in

health and peace. Do not wait to feel that

you are made whole. Believe His word,

and it will be fulfilled. Put your will on

the side of Christ. Will to serve Him, and

in acting upon His word you will receive

strength. Whatever may be the evil practice,

the master passion which through long in-

dulgence binds both soul and body, Christ

is able and longs to deliver. He will impart

life to the soul that is 'dead in trespasses.'

Eph. 2:1. He will set free the captive that

is held by weakness and misfortune and the

chains of

sin."—The Desire of Ages,

page

203.

To meet this need, what means

of deliverance has been provided?

Rom.

7:25 to 8:3; Acts 4:12;

John

1:4, 29; 14:6.

How is this salvation revealed?

Rom. 1:16, 17;

2 Cor. 4:4; 2 Tim. 1:10.

NOTE.—"The giving of the gospel to the

world is the work that God has committed

to those who bear His name. For earth's sin

and misery the gospel is the only antidote.

To make known to all mankind the message

of the grace of God is the first work of those

who know its healing power."—The

Min-

istry of Healing,

page 141.

How

is the sinner saved? Eph.

2:8,

Acts 16:31.

NoTE.—"It is impossible for us, of our-

selves, to escape from the pit of sin in

which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil,

[ 8 ]

and we cannot change them. . . . Education,

culture, the exercise of the will, human effort,

all have their proper sphere, but here they

are powerless. They may produce an out-

ward correctness of behavior, but they can-

not change the heart ; they cannot purify

the springs of life. There must be a power

working from within, a new life from above,

before men can be changed from sin to holi-

ness. That power is Christ. His grace alone

can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul,

and attract it to God, to holiness."—Steps

Christ,

page 20.

Imputed Righteousness

What is man's first duty? Matt.

6:33.

10.

What are the conditions of en-

trance into the kingdom of God? Rom.

14:17, 18;

Acts 2:38, 39.

NoTEs.—"The condition of eternal life is

now just what it always has been, ... perfect

obedience to the law of God, perfect right-

eousness."—Steps

to Christ,

page 67.

"The law requires righteousness,—a right-

eous life, a perfect character; and this man

has not to give. . . . But Christ, coming to

the earth as man, lived a holy life, and de-

veloped a perfect character. These He offers

as a free gift to all who will receive them.

His life stands for the life of men. Thus

they have remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God."—The

De-

sire of Ages,

page 762.

"Christ perfected a righteous character

here upon the earth, not on His own account,

for His character was pure and spotless, but

for fallen man. His character He offers to

-man if he will accept it. The sinner, through

repentance of his sins, faith in Christ, and

obedience to the perfect law of God, has the

righteousness of Christ imputed to him; it

becomes his righteousness, and his name is

recorded in the Lamb's book of life. He be-

comes a child of God, a member of the royal

family."—Testimonies, vol.

3, pp. 371, 372.

"The thought that the righteousness of

Christ is imputed to us, not because of any

merit on our part, but as a free gift from

God, is a precious thought. The enemy of

God and man is not willing that this truth

should be clearly presented; for he knows

that if the people receive it fully, his power

will be

broken."—Gospel Workers,

page 161.

11.

What is man's only hope? Col.

1:27, 28;

Rom. 5:17; Jer. 17:17.

12.

What does imputed righteous-

ness accomplish? Rom. 3:24-26.

NorE.—"Thus they have remission of sins

that are past, through the forbearance of

God."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 762.

Imparted Righteousness

13.

Into what experience is the

justified one to be led? 1 Thess. 4:3,

first part; Rom. 5:9-11;

Eph. 3:17, 20;

Jude 24.

NoTEs.—"More than this, Christ imbues

men with the attributes of God. He builds

up the human character after the similitude

of the divine character, a goodly fabric of

spiritual strength and beauty. Thus the very

righteousness of the law is fulfilled in the

believer in Christ."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 762.

"We are abiding in Christ by a living faith.

He is abiding in our hearts by our individual

appropriating of faith. We have the com-

panionship of the divine presence, and as

we realize this presence, our thoughts are

brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. Our

spiritual exercises are in accordance with the

[ 9 ]

vividness of our sense of this companionship.

Enoch walked with God in this way; and

Christ is dwelling in our hearts by faith

when we will consider what He is to us, and

what a work He has wrought out for us in

the plan of redemption. . . . I want to im-

press upon your mind that you may have a

divine companion with you, if you will, al-

ways."-Testimonies to Ministers,

page 388.

14. How is this experience made

possible? 1 Peter 1:2, 5;

Heb. 11:6;

John 17:17.

NOTE.

-"We

do not earn salvation by our

obedience; for salvation is the free gift of

God, to be received by faith. But obedience

is the fruit of faith. . . . That so-called faith

in Christ which professes to release men from

the obligation of obedience to God, is not

faith, but presumption."-Steps

to Christ,

page 66.

Conclusions and Convictions

All men have sinned, and their sins have

separated them from God and His kingdom.

The penalty for sin is death. All sin

and sinners will be destroyed.

Only those who are clothed with, the

righteousness of Christ will enter God's ever-

lasting kingdom.

Man's righteousness is like "filthy rags."

Man cannot change or save himself.

While we were yet sinners, God gave

His Son to become our righteousness. His

death paid the penalty for our sins. His

righteousness is imputed to us for our justi-

fication and imparted to us for our sanctifi-

cation.

"So we have nothing in ourselves of which

to boast. We have no ground for self-exalta-

tion. Our only ground of hope is in the

righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and

in that wrought by His Spirit working in and

through

us."-Steps to Christ,

page 68.

Lesson 3, for January 16, 1954

Christianity and the Christian

MEMORY VERSE: "I

am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but

Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith

of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.

STUDY HELPS:

"Testimonies," vol. 2,

pp.

588-594; "Gospel Workers," pages 282,

283.

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

1. Sabbath afternoon: General survey

Ques. 9-12.

of the lesson, based on outline.

Read "Gospel Workers" assignment;

Key Thought; Ques. 1-4.

Conclusions and Convictions.

3. Ques. 5-8.

Review the entire lesson.

Read study help from "Testimonies."

Lesson Outline:

God and Man

What is man?

God's love for man.

Christ's redemption of man.

Man built into the temple of the

Lord.

II. The One True God

There is but one God.

Creatorship the mark of the true

God.

God's supremacy.

The prayer of the righteous.

III. The Meaning of Christianity

1. True religion.

[

10]

Christ and Christianity.

The indwelling Christ.

Key Thought:

"The Lord Jesus was the foundation of

the whole Jewish economy. . . . But the

Jews had exalted the forms and ceremonies,

and had lost sight of their object. . . These

maxims and traditions became an obstacle to

their understanding and practice of true re-

ligion.... They demanded signs instead of a

Saviour. . . . Not by force of arms, not by

violent interpositions, was the kingdom of

God to prevail, but by the implanting of

a new principle in the hearts of men."—

Christ's Object Lessons,

pages 34, 35 (new

ed., pp. 28, 29).

THE LESSON

God and Man

1. What questions does inspiration

ask concerning man? Ps. 144:3, 4;

Job 7:17, 18;

Ps. 8:3, 4.

The One True God

5. In what words does the Bible

emphasize that there is but one true

God? Isa. 45:5, 22;

Deut. 6:4.

NoTE.—"In the apostasy, man alienated

himself from God; earth was cut off from

heaven. Across the gulf that lay between,

there could be no communion."—Steps

Christ,

page 23.

How did God show His love for

man? John 3:16; 1 John 4:14;

Rom.

5:8.

NOTE.—"Through Christ, earth is again

linked with heaven. With His own merits,

Christ has bridged the gulf which sin had

made, so that the ministering angels can hold

communion with man. Christ connects fallen

man, in his weakness and helplessness, with

the Source of infinite power. . . . The only

way to God is Christ."—Steps

to Christ,

pages 23, 24.

What did Christ do for hopeless,

helpless man? Col. 1:13, 14, 21;

Eph.

2:1-5; Rom. 5:6.

What, then, does that mean for

those who accept God's gift by faith?

Eph. 2:19-22.

NoTEs.—"The revelation of Himself that

God has given in His word is for our study.

This we may seek to understand. But be-

yond this we are not to penetrate. The

highest intellect may tax itself until it is

wearied out in conjectures regarding the

nature of God; but the effort will be fruit-

less. This problem has not been given us to

solve. No human mind can comprehend

God. Let no finite man attempt to interpret

Him. Let none indulge in speculation re-

garding His nature. Here silence is elo-

quence. The Omniscient One is above

dis-

cussion."—Testimonies,

vol. 8, p. 279.

"As we learn more and more of what

God is, and of what we ourselves are in His

sight, we shall fear and tremble before

Him."—Ibid.,

p. 283.

How is the true God distin-

guished? jer. 10:10-12; Isa. 40:25, 26.

NorE.—"God's claim to reverence and

worship, above the gods of the heathen, is

based upon the fact that He is the Creator,

and that to Him all other beings owe their

existence. Thus it is presented in the Bible."

—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 336.

How is the supremacy of God

affirmed? Eph. 4:6;

Acts 17:24-27; Ps.

139:7-12.

NOT DUSTY TOMES OR HEATED ARGUMENTS, BUT

A CONSISTENT LIFE IS THE MOST POWERFUL

PROOF OF CHRISTIANITY. „,/e



>.--,

':.=.

---

-.....

'X;..

„.

,..

NOTE.—"He pointed His hearers to the

Ruler of the universe, under the new name,

`Our Father.' He would have them under-

stand how tenderly the heart of God

yearned over them. He teaches that God

cares for every lost soul; that 'like as a

father pitieth his children, so the Lord

pitieth them that fear Him.' Such a concep-

tion of God was never given to the world

by any religion but that of the Bible.

Heathenism teaches men to look upon the

Supreme Being as an object of fear rather

than of love,—a malign deity to be appeased

by sacrifices, rather than a Father pouring

upon His children the gift of His love. . . .

"It is not because of inherent power that

year by year the earth produces her boun-

ties, and continues her motion round the

sun. The hand of God guides the planets,

and keeps them in position in their orderly

march through the heavens. It is through

His power that summer and winter, seed-

time and harvest, day and night follow each

other in their regular succession. It is by

His word that vegetation flourishes, that

the leaves appear, and the flowers bloom.

Every good thing we have, each ray of sun-

shine and shower of rain, every morsel of

food, every moment of life, is a gift of love."

—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,

pages 113-115.

What, therefore, should be the

trustful prayer of the righteous? Ps.

16:1, 8;

31:1-3, 14, 15.

NOTE.—"It. is Christ first and last and al-

ways. He is to be with us, not only at the

beginning and the end of our course, but at

every step of the

way."—Steps to Christ,

pages 73, 74.

The Meaning of Christianity

How is true religion defined?

James 1:27.

NorEs.—"Bible religion is not one influence

among many others; its influence is to be

supreme, pervading and controlling every

other. It is not to be like a dash of color

brushed here and there upon the canvas, but

it is to pervade the whole life, as if the can-

vas were dipped into the color, until every

thread of the fabric were dyed a deep, un-

fading hue."—The

Desire o f Ages,

page 312.

"Religion, pure and undefiled, ennobles

its possessor. You will ever find with the

true Christian a marked cheerfulness, a holy,

happy confidence in God, a submission to

His providences, that is refreshing to the

soul."—Testimonies,

vol. 3, p. 377.

10.

How is practical religion set

forth in the teachings of Jesus? Matt.

25:34-40; 10:42.

NOTES.—"Religion is not merely an emo-

tion, a feeling. It is a principle which is

interwoven with all the daily duties and

transactions of life. Nothing will be enter-

tained, no business engaged in, which will

prevent the accompaniment of this principle.

To retain pure and undefiled religion, it is

necessary to be workers, persevering in ef-

fort. We must do something ourselves. No

one else can do our work. None but our-

selves can work out our salvation with fear

and trembling. This is the very work which

the Lord has left for us to

do ."—Testimonies ,

vol. 2, p. 506.

"Our profession of faith may proclaim the

theory of religion, but it is our practical

piety that holds forth the word of truth. The

consistent life, the holy conversation, the

[12

]

unswerving integrity, the active, benevolent

spirit, the godly example,—these are the me-

diums through which light is conveyed to the

world."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 307.

11.

What experience is compre-

hended in Christianity? Col. 1:27;

Eph.

3:17-19; John 15:4, 7; Rev. 3:20.

NoTEs.—Christianity is "Christ in you,

the hope of glory." The very nature of

Christ must be implanted in you—Christ's

mind, Christ's thoughts, Christ's motives,

Christ's feelings, Christ's words, Christ's

acts, become the very warp and woof of the

Christian's life. These will make a man a

Christian—a real Christian. That is the

meaning of Christianity.

"Gospel religion is Christ in the life,—a

living, active principle. It is the grace of

Christ revealed in character and wrought

out in good works. The principles of the gos-

pel cannot be disconnected from any depart-

ment of practical life. Every line of Christian

experience and labor is to be a representation

of the life of

Christ."—Christ's Object Les-

sons,

page 384 (new ed., p. 389).

12.

How is this fellowship with

Christ further emphasized? Gal. 2:20;

Rom. 6:11;

Col. 3:2, 3.

NOTES.—"Christianity—how many there

are who do not know what it is! It is not

something put on the outside. It is a life

inwrought with the life of Jesus. It means

that we are wearing the robe of Christ's

righteousness."—Testimonies

to Ministers,

page 131.

"Christianity has a much broader mean-

ing than many have hitherto given it. It

is not a creed. It is the word of Him who

liveth and abideth forever. It is a living,

animating principle, that takes possession of

mind, heart, motives, and the entire man.

Christianity—oh, that we might experience

its operations

!"—Ibid.,

pp. 421, 422.

Conclusions and Convictions

Too many people have a wrong con-

ception of Christianity. They have the idea

that Christianity is a philosophy to talk

about and debate.

The Christian religion is something to

be, something to do, something to affect

every transaction, every business and social

relationship, every phase of everyday life.

The strongest and most powerful ar-

gument for Christianity is a loving and

lovable Christian.

God belongs to every man, every tribe,

every nation, every people; and you and I

who know Him are under obligation to go

and make Him known to as many people as

we can reach. Making God known by pre-

cept and by example, that is the business of

Christians everywhere.

Lesson 4, for January 23, 1954

On Becoming a Christian—Steps to Christ

MEMORY VERSE:

"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate,

saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and

will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the

Lord Almighty." 2 Cor. 6:17, 18.

STUDY HELPS:

"Testimonies," vol. 9, pp. 165, 166; "The Desire of Ages," pages

519-523; "Christ's Object Lessons," pages 402-404 (new ed., pp. 410-413).

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: General survey

of the lesson, following the outline.

Key Thought; Ques. 1-3.

Ques. 4-6.

Read suggested study helps.

Ques. 7-10.

Ques. 11-13; Conclusions and Con-

victions.

Review the entire lesson.

(13

Lesson Outline:

I. The Call to Become Christians

The business of the Christian church.

Separation from the world.

Sons of God.

II. The Call to Surrender

The Master's call.

The meaning of surrender.

Christ the way.

III. Steps to Christ

A new birth.

Conversion.

Repentance.

Confession.

Justification.

Adoption.

Sanctification.

Key Thought:

"When we submit ourselves to Christ, the

heart is united with His heart, the will is

merged in His will, the mind becomes one

with His mind, the thoughts are brought into

captivity to Him; we live His life. This is

what it means to be clothed with the gar-

ment of His righteousness.... Righteousness

is rightdoing, and it is by their deeds that all

will be judged.... The works show whether

the faith is

genuine."—Christ's Object Les-

sons,

page 312 (new ed., p. 319).

THE LESSON

The Call to Become Christians

What is the supreme business of

the Christian church? Matt. 28:19, 20;

Mark 16:15.

What must be the experience of

everyone who would be a true Chris-

tian? 2 Cor. 6:17, 18;

Rev. 18:4.

Into what family is the Christian

adopted? Rom. 8:14-17;

Gal. 4:4-7;

Eph. 2:18, 19.

The Call to Surrender

What is the call of the Master to

those whom He chooses? Matt. 4:18-

22; 9:9.

NOTE.—"The deeper lesson which the

miracle conveyed for the disciples is a les-

son for us also,—that He whose word could

gather the fishes from the sea could also

impress human hearts, and draw them by

the cords of His love, so that His servants

might become 'fishers of men.' . . .

"In the apostles of our Lord there was

nothing to bring glory to themselves. It

was evident that the success of their labors

was due only to God. The lives of these

men, the characters they developed, and

the mighty work that God wrought through

them, are a testimony to what He will do

for all who are teachable and obedient."

—The Desire of Ages,

pages 249, 250.

What is the meaning of a full

surrender? Luke 14:33;

Matt. 19:27,

first part.

NOTES.—"The surrender of all our powers

to God greatly simplifies the problem of life.

It weakens and cuts short a thousand strug-

gles with the passions of the natural heart.

Religion is as a golden cord that binds the

souls of both youth and aged to Christ.

Through it the willing and obedient are

brought safely through dark and intricate

paths to the City of God."—Mrs. E. G.

White, in

Youth's Instructor

, Feb. 2, 1893.

"Many who profess to be .,hrist's follow-

ers have an anxious, troubled heart, because

they are afraid to trust themselves with God.

They do not make a complete surrender to

Him; for they shrink from the consequences

that, such a surrender may involve. Unless

RELIGION IS A CORD THAT

LEADS CHRISTIANS THROUGH

THE DARKNESS TO THE

ETERNAL HOME-

\\ 0)/ /

GOYA GOO

1R111§14

they do make this surrender, they can-

not find peace."—The

Ministry of Healing,

pages 480, 481.

What is Christ's part in the way

back to God? John 14:6;

10:7-9.

The Steps to Christ—The Way

Back to God

What essential experience is nec-

essary in becoming a child of God?

John 3:3;

1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 3:9.

NOTE.—"Nicodemus had come to the Lord

thinking to enter into a discussion with Him,

but Jesus laid bare the foundation principles

of truth. He said to Nicodemus, It is not

theoretical knowledge you need so much as

spiritual regeneration. . . . The Christian's

life is not a modification or improvement of

the old, but

transformation of nature.

There is a death to self and sin, and a new

life altogether. This change can be brought

about only by the effectual working of the

Holy Spirit."—The

Dersire of Ages,

pages

171, 172.

What term does the Scripture

use to express the experience of turn-

ing away from sin to righteousness?

Acts 3:19;

Ps. 51:3.

NOTE.—"The great truth of the conver-

sion of the heart by the Holy Spirit is,

presented in Christ's words to Nicodemus:

`Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a

man be born from above, he cannot see the

kingdom of God. .. . That which is born of

the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of

the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said

unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind

bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest

the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence

it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every-

one that is born of the Spirit.' John 3:3-8,

margin."—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 98

(new ed., p. 95) .

What is the first step on our part

. in coming to Christ? Acts 2:37, 38;

Luke 13:3; 2 Peter 3:9.

NorEs.—"Repentance is turning from self

Christ."—Thoughts From the Mount of

Blessing,

page 131.

"But no man can empty himself of self.

We can only consent for Christ to accom-

plish the work. Then the language of the

soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I can-

not give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure,

for I cannot keep it for Thee. Save me in

spite of myself, my weak, un-Christlike self.

Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure

and holy atmosphere, where the rich current

of Thy love can flow through my soul."—

Christ's Object Lessons,

page 159. (new ed.,

p. 161).

10.

What besides repentance is nec-

essary? Prov. 28:13; 1 John 1:9;

Acts

19:18; James 5:16.

NOTES.—"Those who have not humbled

their souls before God in acknowledging

their guilt, have not yet fulfilled the first

condition of acceptance. If we have not ex-

perienced that repentance which is not to

[151

be repented of, and have not with true

humiliation of soul and brokenness of spirit

confessed our sins, abhorring our iniquity,

we have never truly sought for the forgive-

ness of sin; and if we have never sought, we

have never found the peace of

God."—Steps

to Christ,

pages 42, 43.

"If there have been difficulties, brethren

and sisters,—if envy, malice, bitterness, evil

surmisings, have existed, confess these sins,

not in a general way, but to your brethren

and sisters personally. Be definite."—Mrs.

E. G. White, in

Review and Herald,

Dec.

16, 1884.

11.

What does imputed righteous-

ness bring to the believer? Rom. 4:22

to 5:1;

3:21-26; Acts 13:39.

NOTE.—"What is justification by faith?

It is the work of God in laying the glory of

man in the dust, and doing for man that

which it is not in his power to do for him-

self."—Testimonies to Ministers,

page 456.

12.

By what formal act do we be-

come members of the family of God?

Rom. 8:14, 15;

Gal. 4:4-6; Eph. 1:3-7.

NoTE.—"If you make the sacrifice, if

you have to forsake father, mother, sisters,

brothers, wife, and children for Christ's sake,

you will not be friendless. God adopts you

into His family; you become members of the

royal household, sons and daughters of the

King who rules in the heaven of heavens."—

Testimonies, vol.

1, p. 510.

13.

What is the ultimate purpose

of God, and what is this experience

called? 1 Thess. 3:13; 4:3, first part;

5:23; 2 Thess. 2:13.

NOTES.—"The Scriptures plainly show

that the work of sanctification is progressive.

When in conversion the sinner finds peace

with God through the blood of the atone-

ment, the Christian life has but just begun.

Now he is to 'go on unto perfection ;' to

grow up 'unto the measure of the stature of

the fullness of Christ.' [Heb. 6:1; Eph. 4:13.1

. . . And Peter sets before us the steps by

which Bible sanctification is to be attained.

2 Peter

1:5-10."—The Great Controversy,

page 470 (new ed., p. 465).

"The sanctification set forth in the Scrip-

tures embraces the entire being,—spirit, soul,

and

body."—Ibid.,

p. 473.

"This is true sanctification; for sanctifica-

tion consists in the cheerful performance of

daily duties in perfect obedience to the will

God."—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 360

(new ed., p. 362).

"True sanctification means perfect love,

perfect obedience, perfect conformity to the

will of God."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

page 565.

Conclusions and Convictions

God wants men everywhere to be

saved.

To the church has been given the re-

sponsibility of carrying the gospel to all the

world and through it call out those who

would be free from sin and ready for the

second coming of Christ.

The Christian religion calls men out of

sin, apart from the world, into a union and

partnership with Christ.

The Christian life is one of full surren-

der to God to be guided and directed by His

Spirit.

To become true Christians we must

experience the new birth, following the steps

back to God through repentance and confes-

sion on to our experience of justification and

sanctification, which is the process of re-

storing in man the character of God. "Sanc-

tification is not the work of a moment, an

hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not

gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the

result of constantly dying to sin, and con-

stantly living for Christ."—The

Acts of the

Apostles,

page 560.

PLAN FOR THE THIRTEENTH

SABBATH OFFERING, MARCH. 27

[ 16 ]

•

• Lesson-5i. for January 30, 1954

The Christian's Heart and Mind

MEMORY VERSE:

"My son, give Me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe My

ways." Prov.

23:26.

STUDY HELPS:

"Testimonies," vol. 3, pp. 333-335; "The Acts of the Apostles," page

566; "Patriarchs and Prophets," page 600.

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: Survey the les-



5. Ques. 9, 10.

son, following the outline.



6. Ques. 11, 12; Conclusions and Con-

Key Thought; Ques. 1-4.



victions.

Ques. 5-8.



7. Review the entire lesson.

Read suggested study helps.

Lesson Outline:

The Heart of Man

The natural condition of man's heart.

God's gracious invitation.

The sinner's plea.

God's response.

II. The Mind of Christ

The need of a change of mind.

"Let this mind be in you."

Relation of mind to character.

Guarding the avenues to the soul.

III. Christ Dwells in the Christian's Heart

Meaning of Christ dwelling in the

heart.

Results of the indwelling.

The indwelling Christ revealed in

the life.

How to become like Christ..

Key Thought:

"From eternal ages it was God's purpose

that every created being, from the bright

and holy seraph to man, should be a temple

for the indwelling of the Creator. Because of

sin, humanity ceased to be a temple for God.

Darkened and defiled by evil, the heart of

man no longer revealed the glory of the

Divine One. But by the incarnation of the

Son of God, the purpose of Heaven is ful-

filled. God dwells in humanity, and through

saving grace the heart of man becomes again

His temple. God designed that the temple at

Jerusalem should be a continual witness to

the high destiny open to every soul. But the

Jews had not understood the significance of

the building they regarded with so much

pride. They did not yield themselves as holy

temples for the divine Spirit. The courts of

the temple at Jerusalem, filled with the tu-

mult of unholy traffic, represented all too

truly the temple of the heart, defiled by

the presence of sensual passion and unholy

thoughts. In cleansing the temple from the

world's buyers and sellers, Jesus announced

His mission to cleanse the heart from the de-

filement of sin,-from the earthly desires,

the selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corrupt

the soul."-The

Desire of Ages,

page 161.

THE LESSON

The Heart of Man

1. What is the natural condition of

man's heart? Jer. 17:9;

Matt. 15:19;

Mark 7:21-23.

Nora.-"Men

do not know their own

hearts; for 'the heart is deceitful above all

things, and desperately wicked.' But God

understands the tendencies of the depraved

nature of

man."-Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 688.

2. What gracious invitation does

God give to men? Prov. 23:26; Rev.

3:20.

[17

110111111Ad%



Ald#

ill.

DIVINE SURGERY IS NECESSARY.

"It is a law both of the intellectual and

the spiritual ' nature, that by beholding,

we become changed. The mind gradually

adapts itself to the subjects upon which it

is allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated

to that which it is accustomed to love and

reverence. Man will never rise higher than

his standard of purity or goodness or

truth."—The

Great Controversy,

page 555.

6. Whose mind will the Christian

possess? 1 Cor. 2:16; Phil. 2:5.

NoTE.—"Let us not keep back from God

that which is His own. . . . He asks for a

whole heart; give it to Him; it is His, both

by creation and by redemption. He asks for

your intellect; give it to Him; it is His."—

The Acts of the Apostles,

page 566.

What should be the sinner's

plea? Ps. 51:10, 11.

NOTE.—"No man can of himself cast out

the evil throng that have taken possession of

the heart. Only Christ can cleanse the soul

temple. But He will not force an entrance.

. . . His presence will cleanse and sanctify

the soul, so that it may be a holy temple unto

the Lord, and 'an habitation of God through

the Spirit.'

"—The Desire of Ages,

pages 161,

162. See also pages 171-176.

What will be God's response?

Ezek. 36:26;

11:19.

NoTEs.—"The fountain of the heart must

be purified before the streams can become

pure."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 172.

"When Christ is in the heart it will be so

softened and subdued by love for God and

man that fretting, faultfinding, and conten-

tion will not exist there. The religion of

Christ in the heart will gain for its possessor

a complete victory over those passions that

are seeking for the

mastery."—Testimonies,

vol. 4, p. 610.

The Mind of Christ

Why do we need a change of

mind? Rom. 8:5-8;

Col. 1:21.

NOTES.—"The mind, the heart, that is in-

dolent, aimless, falls an easy prey to evil.

It is on diseased, lifeless organisms that

fungus roots. It is the idle mind that is

Satan's workshop. Let the mind be di-

rected to high and holy ideals, let the life

have a noble aim, an absorbing purpose,

and evil finds little foothold."—Education,

page 190.

7. What is the relation of mind to

character? Rom. 12:2;

1 Cor. 15:33.

NOTE.—The transformation of character

begins with the changing of one's thoughts.

"The words, 'A new heart also will I give

you' (Ezek. 36:26), mean, A new mind will

I give you. This change of heart is always

attended by a clear conception of Christian

duty, an understanding of truth. The clear-

ness of our view of truth will be proportion-

ate to our understanding of the word of

God."—Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and

Students,

page 452.

8. What can and must the Christian

do to see that the mind feeds on right

and proper things? Phil. 4:7-9;

Ps.

101:3, 4.

NOTES.—"The mind, the soul, is built up

by that upon which it feeds; and it rests

with us to determine upon what it shall be

fed. It is within the power of everyone to

choose the topics that shall occupy the

thoughts and shape the character."—Edu-

cation,

pages 126, 127.

"As the mind dwells upon Christ, the char-

acter is molded after the divine similitude.

The thoughts are pervaded with a sense of

His goodness, His love. We contemplate His

character, and thus He is in all our thoughts.

. . . Here again there is the realization of a

personal, living influence dwelling in our

hearts by

faith."—Testimonies to Ministers,

pages 388, 389.

Christ Dwells in the Christian's

Heart

What heart experience should

the Christian have? Eph. 3:17;

Gal.

2:20; John 14:23.

NOTE.—"Christ dwelling in our hearts by

faith means the contemplation of Christ,

beholding Christ, ever cherishing the dear

Saviour as our very best and honored friend,

so that we would not in any action grieve

and offend

Him."—Testimonies to Ministers,

page 387.

10.

What results will come to the

one who is renewed in mind? Eph.

4:20-24;

Col. 2:6, 7, 10.

NoTE.—"The growth of every Christian is

from within, not from without. It is only

as the Spirit of Christ dwells in the heart by

faith that we can grow in grace and the

knowledge of Christ. Only through the grace

daily drawn from Jesus can the heart be

kept. There can be no safety in extolling

self; we must hide self

Jesus. Christ

abiding within, is the life of the soul. And

we are to receive Christ through His word.

It is the truth that sanctifies the soul."—

Mrs. E. G. White, in

Review and Herald,

Feb. 16, 1892.

11. Since Christ is holy, what will

His indwelling in our heart do for us?

1 Peter 1:15, 16;

Eph.

1:4.

NoTE.—"Christ abiding in the heart shines

out in the faces of those who love Him and

keep His commandments. Truth is written

there. The sweet peace of heaven is revealed.

There is expressed a habitual gentleness, a

more than human

love."—Christ's Object

Lessons,

page 102 (new ed., p. 99). •

12. How do we become like Christ?

2 Cor. 3:18;

Heb. 12:2.

NoTE.—"A life in Christ is a life of restful-

ness. There may be no ecstasy of feeling, but

there should bean abiding, peaceful trust.

Your hope is not in yourself; it is in Christ.

Your weakness is united to His strength,

your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty

to His enduring might. So you are not to

look to yourself, not to let the mind dwell

on self, but look to Christ. Let the mind

dwell upon His love, upon the beauty, the

perfection, of His character. Christ in His

self-denial, Christ in His humiliation, Christ

in His purity and holiness, Christ in His

matchless love,—this is the subject for the

soul's contemplation. It is by loving Him,

copying Him, depending wholly upon Him,

that you are to be transformed into His

likeness."—Steps

to Christ,

page 75.

Conclusions and Convictions

God so loved the world that He gave

His Son to be my Saviour, and I so loved

God that I gave my heart to become His

abiding place. "I pray that Christ may make

His home in your hearts through your faith."

Eph. 3:17, Weymouth.

What comes out of a man's heart de-

pends upon what he puts into his heart.

Christianity is not so much how to get

[ 19 ]

a man into heaven by and by, as it is how to

get heaven into a man's heart here and now.

4. "There is an eloquence far more pow-

erful than the eloquence of words in the

quiet, consistent life of a pure, true Chris-

tian. What a man is has more influence

than what he says.

"The officers who were sent to Jesus

came back with the report that never man

spoke as He spoke. But the reason for this

was that never man lived as He lived. Had

His life been other than it was, He could

not have spoken as He

did."-The Ministry

of Healing,

page 469.

Lesson 6, for February 6, 1954

The Christian's Body

MEMORY VERSE:

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy

Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in

your spirit, which are God's." 1 Cor. 6:19, 20.

STUDY HELPS:

"Christ's Object Lessons," pages 346-351 (new ed., pp. 349-354);

"Prophets and Kings," page 489.

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: Survey the les-

son, following the outline.

Key Thought; Ques. 1-3.

Ques. 4-6.

Read suggested study helps.

Ques. 7, 8.

Ques. 9-12; Conclusions and Convic-

tions.

Review the entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

I. "Ye Are Not Your Own"

Our bodies are the temple of God.

Flesh and spirit contrasted.

The result of defiling the body.

II. "Present Your Bodies, . . . Holy,

Acceptable"

"A living sacrifice."

The great objective.

The body temple.

III. Keeping Fit

God's desire for His people.

Temperate in all things.

IV. Living for God and His Kingdom

God's purpose for His people.

The attitude of the true Christian.

A commendable example.

The essence of the kingdom of God.

Key Thought:

"The body is the only medium through

which the mind and the soul are developed

for the upbuilding of character. Hence it

is that the adversary of souls directs his

temptations to the enfeebling and degrading

of the physical powers. His success here

means the surrender to evil of the whole be-

ing. The tendencies of our physical nature,

unless under the dominion of a higher

power, will surely work ruin and death."-

The Ministry of Healing,

page 130.

THE LESSON

"Ye Are Not Your Own"

1. What is our body declared to be?

1 Cor. 6:19, 20;

2 Cor. 6:16.

2. How does Paul contrast the life

"after the flesh" and the life "after the

Spirit"? Rom. 8:5-9;

1 Cor. 2:14.

[ 20

THE SOUL MUST BE CLEANSED

IF CHI2 ST IS TO BE

WELCOMED

NTO THE HEART.

What Will result from defilement

of the body? 1 Cor. 3:17.

NoTE.—"The laws that govern our physi-

cal organism, God has written upon every

nerve, muscle, and fiber of the body. Every

careless or willful violation of these laws is a

sin against our Creator.. . .

"The power of the will and the importance

of self-control, both in the preservation and

in the recovery of health, the depressing

and even ruinous effect of anger, discontent,

selfishness, or impurity, and, on the other

hand, the marvelous life-giving power to be

found in cheerfulness, unselfishness, grati-

tude, should also be

shown."—Education,

pages 196, 197.

Present Your Bodies—Holy—

Acceptable

What is the Christian enjoined

to do? Rom. 12:1.

NOTES.—"It is impossible for a man to

present his body a living sacrifice, holy, ac-

ceptable to God, while continuing to in-

dulge habits that are depriving him of physi-

cal, mental, and moral

vigor."—Counsels on

Health,

page 23.

"Sanctification is not merely a theory, an

emotion, or a form of words, but a living,

active principle, entering into the everyday

life. It requires that our habits of eating,

drinking, and dressing be such as to secure

the preservation of physical, mental, and

moral health, that we may present to the

Lord our bodies—not an offering corrupted

by wrong habits, but—`a living sacrifice,

holy, acceptable unto God.'

"—Ibid.,

p. 67.

"As it is through the body that all the evil

that is in the unrenewed heart comes forth

in palpable manifestation and action, so it is

through the body that the gracious princi-

ples and affections of believers reveal them-

selves in the outward life. The Christian

must never forget that as corruption extends

to the whole man, so does sanctification."—

Critical and Experimental Commentary,

vol.

6, p. 623.

What is the great objective of

all Christian living? 1 Thess. 5:23;

Phil. 3:17-21.

NOTE.—"The body is to be brought into

subjection. The higher powers of the being

are to rule. The passions are to be controlled

by the will, which is itself to be under the

control of God. The kingly power of reason,

sanctified by divine grace, is to bear sway in

our lives.

"The requirements of God must be

brought home to the conscience. Men and

women must be awakened to the duty of

self-mastery, the need of purity, freedom

from every depraving appetite and defiling

habit. They need to be impressed with the

fact that all their powers of mind and body

are the gift of God, and are to be preserved

in the best possible condition for His serv-

ice."—The

Ministry of Healing,

page 130.

In whose heart does God prom-

ise to dwell? Isa. 57:15.

NOTE.—Only holy people can dwell in

God's presence, and God will dwell only in

people whose bodies are holy,—blameless,—

without spot or wrinkle.

[

]

Keeping Fit

What is God's desire for His

people? 3 John 2; Ps. 103:1-5.

Noms.—"We cannot be too often re-

minded that health does not depend on

chance. It is a result of obedience to law.

This is recognized by the contestants in ath-

letic games and trials of strength. These men

make the most careful preparation. They

submit to thorough training and strict dis-

cipline. Every physical habit is carefully

regulated. They know that neglect, excess,

or carelessness, which weakens or cripples

any organ or function of the body, would

ensure defeat.

"How much more important is such care-

fulness to ensure success in the conflict of

life. . . . We are waging a warfare upon

which hang eternal results."—The

Ministry

of Healing,

page 128.

"Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest,

exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust

in divine power,—these are the true reme-

dies."—Ibid., p. 127.

"Health is an inestimable blessing, and one

more closely related to conscience and reli-

gion than many realize. .. . The importance

of caring for the health should be taught as

a Bible requirement. . . . No one can prop-

erly understand his obligations to God un-

less he understands clearly his obligations to

himself as God's property. He who remains

in sinful ignorance of the laws of life and

health, or who willfully violates these laws,

sins against

God."—Counsels to Parents,

Teachers, and Students,

pages 294, 295.

What part does temperance have

in keeping the body under control?

1 Cor. 9:25-27;

Gal. 5:22, 23.

NorEs.—"With our first parents, intem-

perate desire resulted in the loss of Eden.

Temperance in all things has more to do with

our restoration to Eden than men realize.

. 'Every man that striveth for the mastery

is temperate in all things.'

"—The Ministry

of Healing,

page 129.

"I was shown that Sabbathkeepers as a

people labor too hard without allowing

themselves change or periods of rest. . . . It

is not essential to our salvation, nor for the

glory of God, to keep the mind laboring con-

stantly and excessively, even upon religious

themes."—The

Adventist Home,

page 494.

"The time spent in physical exercise is not

lost. ... Care needs to be exercised in regard

to the regulation of hours for sleeping and

laboring. We must take periods of rest,

periods of recreation, periods for contempla-

tion. . . . The principles of temperance have

a wider range than many think."—Ibid.

"There are modes of recreation which are

highly beneficial to both mind and body. An

enlightened, discriminating mind will find

abundant means for entertainment and di-

version, from sources not only innocent, but

instructive."—Ibid., p. 496.

Living for God and His Kingdom

What is God's purpose for His

people? 2 Cor. 3:2-4;

Isa. 43:10;

Acts 1:8.

NoTE.—"It is God's purpose to manifest

through His people the principles of His

kingdom. That in life and character they

may reveal these principles, He desires to

separate them from the customs, habits, and

practices of the world. . . .

"God expects those who bear the name of

Christ to represent Him. Their thoughts are

to be pure, their words noble and uplifting.

The religion of Christ is to be interwoven

with all that they do and say. . . . God

desires His people to show by their lives the

advantage of Christianity over worldliness,

to show that they are working on a high,

holy plane."—The

Adventist Home,

pages

519, 520.

10.

What attitude will characterize

the followers of Christ? 1 Cor. 10:31;

Col. 3:17; Matt. 26:39, 42.

11.

What commendable example in

the matter of food and drink is left

on record for our guidance? Dan. 1:8.

[ 22 ]

NOTES.

-"The

question of how to preserve

the health is one of primary importance."-

Testimonies,

vol. 9, p. 153.

"We do not mark out any precise line to

be followed in diet; but we do say that in

countries where there are fruits, grains, and

nuts in abundance, flesh food is not the right

food for God's people. . . . We are not to

make the use of flesh food a test of fellow-

ship."-Ibid,

p. 159.

"It is better to know how to keep well

than how to cure disease."-Ibid., p. 161.

"Eat only plain, simple, wholesome food."

-Ibid.,

p. 163.

Workers "must consider carefully before

they specify just what foods should and

should not be eaten" in the various countries

of the world.

(Ibid.)

12. What transcends meat and

drink in so far as the kingdom of

heaven is concerned? Rom. 14:17;

Matt. 15:15-20.

Conclusions and Convictions

The spiritual nature must control the

lower nature, for the lower nature is in a

state of enmity to God. Rom. 8:7. The

spiritual nature in control means life and

peace. Rom. 8:6. Those controlled by the

lower nature cannot please God. Rom. 8:8.

"Christians have many sources of hap-

piness at their command, and they may tell

with unerring accuracy what pleasures are

lawful and right. They may enjoy such

recreations as will not dissipate the mind or

debase the soul, such as will not disappoint

and leave a sad after influence to destroy

self-respect or bar the way to usefulness. If

they can take Jesus with them and maintain

a prayerful spirit, they are perfectly safe."-

The Adventist Home,

page 513.

Health reform is an intelligent selection

of the most healthful articles of food pre-

pared in the most healthful, simplest form.

Righteousness is more than eating and

drinking. Some people may lose their souls

while sitting as judges of other men's diet.

Lesson 7, for February 13, 1954

The Christian's Possessions

MEMORY VERSE:

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought

nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having

food and raiment let us be therewith content." 1 Tim. 6:6-8.

STUDY HELPS:

"Testimonies," vol. 1, pp. 170-178; "Christ's Object Lessons," pages

351, 352 (new ed., pp. 354, 355).

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: Survey the les-

son, following the outline.

Key Thought; Ques. 1-3.

Ques. 4-8.

Read suggested lesson helps.

Ques. 9-11.

Ques. 12, 13; Conclusions and Con-



victions.

Review the entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

God's Plan for Saving Men

1.. The plan set forth.

By preaching.

God's people provide the means.

II. God's Ownership

By creation.

By redemption.

Everything belongs to God.

God gives power to get wealth.

III. God's Plan for the Support of His

Work

Gospel support.

The tithe.

Tithepayers.

Tithe paying endorsed by Jesus.

God's blessing bestowed.

Faithful stewardship.

[ 23 ]

Key Thoughts:

"A character formed according to the di-

vine likeness is the only treasure that we can

take from this world to the next. . . . How

important, then, is the development of char-

acter in this

life."—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 332 (new ed., p. 335).

"God also entrusts men with means. He

gives them power to get wealth.... And He

asks for a return of His own. Our money

has not been given us that we might honor

and glorify ourselves. As faithful stewards

we are to use it for the honor and glory of

God."—Ibid.,

p. 351.

" 'The tithe . . .

the Lord's.' . . . 'The

seventh day

the Sabbath of the Lord thy

God.' God reserved to Himself a specified

portion of man's time and of his means, and

no man could, without guilt, appropriate

either for his own

interests."—Patriarchs and

Frophets,

pages 525, 526.

THE LESSON

God's Plan for Saving Men

How is God's plan to save men

set forth? Matt. 28:19, 20;

Mark 16:15;

Rev. 14:6.

NotE.—"To Christ's followers today, no

less than to the first disciples, these words

are spoken:

" 'All power is given unto Me in heaven

and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach

all nations.' Go ye into all the, world, and

preach the gospel to every creature.'

"—

The Ministry of Healing,

page 106.

By what method has God chosen

to do all this? Rom. 10:13-15;

1 Cor.

1:17-23.

What ancient example do we

have of God's people providing the

means for His work? Ex. 35:4-10;

36:5-7;

1 Chron. 29:2, 3, 6, 9.

NorE.—"When the people of God were

about to build the sanctuary in the wilder-

ness, extensive preparations were necessary.

Costly materials were collected, and among

them was much gold and silver. As the

rightful owner of all their treasures, the

Lord called for these offerings from the peo-

ple; but He accepted only those that were

given freely. The people offered willingly,

until word was brought to Moses: 'The

people bring much more than enough for

the service of the work, which the Lord

commanded to

make."'—Testimonies, vol.

5, p. 268.

God's Ownership

On what original basis is God's

ownership founded? Gen. 1:1;

Ps.

33:6, 9.

What additional claim does God

have to the world? 1 Peter 1:18, 19;

Eph. 1:14.

.6. How much of the earth belongs

to God? Ps. 24:1; 50:10-12;

Hag. 2:8.

NOTE.-"All

the good that man enjoys

comes because of the mercy of God. He is

the great and bountiful Giver. His love is

manifest to all in the abundant •provision

made for

man."—Testimonies,

vol. 6, p. 385.

7. In acquiring means, what should

man remember? Deut. 8:18;

Matt.

25:14; 1 Cor. 4:7.

NoTE.—"God also entrusts men with

[ 24 ]

means. He gives their' power to get wealth.

. . . Our money has not been given us that

we might honor and glorify ourselves. . . .

All we possess is the Lord's, and we are '

accountable to Him for the use we make of

it. In the use of every penny it will be seen

whether we love God supremely and our

neighbor as ourselves."—Christ's

Object Les-

sons,

page 351 (new ed., p. 354).

God's Plan for the Support

of His Work

What

is God's plan for the sup-

port of His work to evangelize the

world? 1 Cor. 9:7, 13, 14;

Prov. 3:9.

NoTE.—"God's chosen messengers, who

are engaged in aggressive labor, should never

be compelled to go a warfare at their own

charges, unaided by the sympathetic and

hearty support of their brethren. . . . Is not

the work of disseminating truth, and leading

souls to Christ, of more importance than any

ordinary business? And are not those who

faithfully engage in this work justly entitled

to ample remuneration? By our estimate of

the relative value of labor for moral and for

physical good, we show our appreciation of

the heavenly in contrast with the earthly."—

The Acts of the Apostles,

pages 340,341.

What special portion of Israel's

income did God claim, and how was

it used? Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:21.

10.

Name some ancient examples

of those who paid a tithe of their

increase. Heb. 7:1, 2; Gen. 28:20-22.

11.

With what words did Jesus en-

dorse the tithe system? Matt. 23:23.

12.

What blessing does God prom-

ise to bestow on those who bring all

the tithe into the storehouse? Mal.

3:10, 11.

Nora.—"The Lord created every tree in

Eden pleasant to the eyes and good for food,

and He bade Adam and Eve freely enjoy His

bounties. But He made one exception. Of

the tree of knowledge of good and evil they

were not to eat. This tree God reserved as a

constant reminder of His ownership of all.

Thus He gave them opportunity to demon-

strate their faith and trust in Him by their

perfect obedience to His requirements.

"So it is with God's claims upon us. He

places His treasures in the hands of men, but

requires that one tenth shall be faithfully laid

aside for His work. He requires this portion

to be placed in His treasury. It is to be ren-

dered to Him as His own; it is sacred, and

is to be used for sacred purposes, for the

support of those who carry the message of

salvation to all parts of the world. . . . By

faithfully obeying this requirement we ac-

knowledge that all belongs to

God."—Testi-

monies,

vol. 6, p. 386.

13.

What is required of stewards?

1 Cor. 4:2;

Luke 16:1-3.

NOTE.—"Every Christian is a steward of

God, entrusted with His goods.... A steward

identifies himself with his master. He ac-

cepts the responsibilities of a steward, and

he must act in his master's stead, doing as

his master would do were he presiding. His

Master's interests become his. The position of

a steward is one of dignity because his mas-

ter trusts

him."—Testimonies,

vol. 9, p. 246.

Conclusions and Convictions

God's plan for the saving of the lost

embraces the whole world.

God's ownership is based on creation

and redemption.

In God's plan for the support of His

work, He calls upon His people to be faithful

stewards.

Lesson 8, for February 20, 1954

The Christian's Time

MEMORY VERSE:

"The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou

shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant,

nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates."

Exodus

20:10.

STUDY HELPS:

"Christ's Object Lessons," pages 342-346 (new ed.,

pp.

345-349);

"Testimonies," vol. 3, p. 146; vol. 4, p. 412.

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: Survey the les-

son, following the outline.

Ques. 1-5.

Ques. 6-8.

Read suggested study helps.

Ques. 9-11.

Ques. 12-14; Conclusions and Con-

victions.

Review the entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

I. Allocation of Our Time

A time for everything.

A time to work.

A time to relax.

A time to sleep.

A time to pray.

II. The Sabbath Is God's Time

•

1. The Sabbath instituted.

The Sabbath sanctified.

Man's relation to the Sabbath.

III. God's Memorial a Sign

A perpetual memorial.

A sign of sanctification.

Christ the Lord of the Sabbath.

IV. The Test and Blessing of Obedience

1. The third-angel's message.

The question of obedience.

The blessings of obedience.

Key Thought:

"Our time belongs to God. Every moment

is His, and we are under the most solemn

obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no

talent He has given will He require a more

strict account than of our time.

"The value of time is beyond computation.

Christ regarded every moment as precious,

and it is thus that we should regard it. Life

is too short to be trifled away. We have but

a few days of probation in which to prepare

for eternity. We have no time to waste,, no

time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time for

the indulgence of sin. It is now that we are

to form characters for the future, immortal

life. It is now that we are to prepare for the

searching judgment."—Christ's

Object Les-

sons,

page 342 (new ed., pp. 345, 346)—

[26]

DO THE RADIO AND

THE TV SETS KNOW

WHEN THE SABBATH COMES

OUR HOMES?

THE LESSON

Allocation of Our

Time

What does the wise man say re-

garding the allocation of time? Eccl.

3:1-8.

NOTE.

—

"Our

time belongs to God. Every

moment is His, and we are under the most

solemn obligation to improve it to His

glory. Of no talent He has given will He

require a more strict account than of our

time.

"The value of time is beyond computa-

tion. Christ regarded every moment as

precious, and it is thus that we should re-

gard it. Life is too short to be trifled away.

We have but a few days of probation in

which to prepare for eternity. We have no

time to waste, no time to devote to selfish

pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin."

—Christ's Object Lessons,

page 342.

What does God say about a time

for work? Ex. 20:9;

Eccl. 9:10.

NoTE.—"God gave Adam and Eve em-

ployment. . . . They learned how to till the

soil and to care for the things which the Lord

had planted. They did not regard labor as

degrading, but as a great blessing. . . . God

never meant that man should have nothing

to do. . . . Labor is to human beings what

they make it. . . . Heart and soul are to be

put into work of any kind; then there is

cheerfulness and efficiency. . . . Faithfulness

in the discharge of every duty makes the

work noble, and reveals a character that God

can

approve."—Fundamentals of Christian

Education,

pages 314, 315.

What was Christ's instruction to

His weary disciples concerning a time

of rest? Mark 6:31.

Compare Ps.

46:10, first part.

NoTEs.—"He [Christ]

saw, too, that they

had become weary in their labors, and that

they needed to rest."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 359.

"He did not urge upon His disciples the

necessity of ceaseless

toil."—I bid.,

p. 361.

How can sleep be either a bless-

ing or a curse? Eccl. 5:12; Prov. 6:9-11;

24:33, 34; 3:24.

NorE.—"The bright morning hours are

wasted by many in bed. These precious

hours, once lost, are gone never to return;

they are lost for time and for eternity. Only

one hour lost each day, and what a waste. of

time in the course of a year! Let the slum-

berer think of this and pause to consider

how he will give an account to God for lost

opportunities."—Testimonies, vol. 4,

412.

What example did Jesus set us

in finding time to pray? Matt. 14:23;

Luke 6:12; 18:1; 11:1-4.

NOTE.—"Have a place for secret prayer.

. . . We need often to retire to some spot,

however humble, where we can be alone

[ 27 ]

with

God."—Thoughts From the Mount of

Blessing,

page 125.

The Sabbath Is God's Time

At the close of creation what did

God do? Gen. 2:1, 2;

Ex. 20:11.

After resting on the seventh day,

how did God set it apart? Gen. 2:3.

NOTE.—After

resting

upon the seventh

day, God

sanctified

it, or set it apart as a

day of rest for man.

"In Eden, God set up

the memorial

of His

work of creation, in placing His blessing

upon the seventh

day."—Patriarchs and

Prophets,

page 48.

How should we regard God's

time? Ex. 20:10;

Isa. 58:13, 14.

NorEs.—"God saw that a Sabbath was es-

sential for man, even in Paradise. He needed

to lay aside his own interests and pursuits for

one day of the seven, that he might more

fully contemplate the works of God, and

meditate upon His power and goodness. He

needed a Sabbath, to remind him more

vividly of God, and to awaken gratitude

because all that he enjoyed and possessed

came from the beneficent hand of the Cre-

ator. God designs that the Sabbath shall

direct the minds of men to the contempla-

tion of His created

works."—Patriarchs and

Prophets,

page 48.

God reserved to Himself a specified por-

tion of man's money—one tenth, the tithe;

and of his time—one seventh, the Sabbath.

No man can without guilt appropriate either

for his own interests or use.

God's Memorial a Sign

How long will God's memorial

endure? Ps. 135:13;

Isa. 66:22, 23;

Ex. 31:16, 17.

NOTE.—"The Sabbath was not for Israel

merely, but for the world. It had been made

known to man in Eden, and, like the other

precepts of the Decalogue, it is of imperish-

able obligation. Of that law of which the

fourth commandment forms a part, Christ

declares, 'Till heaven and earth pass, one jot

or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the

law.' So long as the heavens and the earth

endure, the Sabbath will continue as a sign

of the Creator's power. And when Eden

shall bloom on earth again, God's holy rest

day will be honored by all beneath the sun.

`From one Sabbath to another' the inhabit-

ants of the glorified new earth shall go up

'to worship before Me, saith the Lord.'

Matt. 5:18; Isa.

66:23."—The Desire of

Ages,

page 283.

10.

Of what is the seventh-day Sab-

bath also a sign? Ezek. 20:12;

Ex.

31:13-17.

NorE.—"All who regard the Sabbath as a

sign between them and God, showing that

He is the God who sanctifies them, will

represent the principles of His government.

They will bring into daily practice the laws

of His kingdom. Daily it will be their prayer

that the sanctification of the Sabbath may

rest upon them. Every day they will have

the companionship of Christ and will exem-

plify the perfection of His

character."—Tes-

timonies,

vol. 6, pp. 353, 354.

11.

How did Jesus, the Lord of the

Sabbath, make clear how the Sabbath

is to be observed? Matt. 12:8-12;

Mark

3:1-5.

The Test and Blessing of Obedience

12.

What warning message is borne

to the world by the third angel of

Revelation 14? Rev. 14:9-12.

13.

How is the ultimate question of

obedience to be settled? Acts 5:29.

[ 28 ]

NoTEs.-"Every man will be tested.

Obe-

dience

disobedience

is the question to be

decided by the whole world. All will be

called to choose between the law of God and

the laws of men. Here the dividing line will

be drawn."-The

Desire of Ages,

page 763.

"The Sabbath will be the great test of

loyalty; for it is the point of truth especially

controverted. When the final test shall be

brought to bear upon men, then the line of

distinction will be drawn between those who

serve God and those who serve Him not."-

The Great Controversy,

page 605.

14. What blessings are to be en-

joyed by those who observe the Sab-

bath? Isa. 58:13, 14;

56:6,

Conclusions and Convictions

Our days and years are limited. There-

fore "teach us to number our days." (Ps.

90:10, 12.)

Time is the substance out of which life

is made. Time must be used, not saved. When

lost it can never be recalled.

The seventh-day Sabbath is God's por-

tion of the time He gives to man. The use

you make of that time is a measure of your

love and loyalty to God.

Lesson 9, for February 27, 1954

The Christian's Home and Family

MEMORY VERSE:

"If it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day

whom ye will serve: ... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Joshua 24:15.

STUDY HELP:

"The Adventist Home," pages 15-28.

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: Survey the les-

son, following the outline.

Key Thought; Ques. 1-3.

Ques. 4, 5; read part of suggested

study help.

Ques. 6-10.

Ques. 11-13.

Ques. 14, 15; read remaining part

of study help; Conclusions and

Convictions.

Review the entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

I. The Home Is of God's Planning

God established the home.

The ideal wife and mother.

Proper relations between husband

and wife.

II. God's Ideal of a Home

The home of Adam and Eve.

The home life of Jesus.

III. Counsel for Parents

Love one another.

"Fathers, provoke not your chil-

dren."

Results of neglect.

Instruction of children.

Christ's estimate of children.

IV. Counsel for Children

Obedience and filial piety.

Best behavior in the home.

Accepting Jesus' invitation.

V. The Influence of a Christian Home

Maintaining a happy home.

Abraham's example.

Key Thoughts:

"Society is composed of families, and is

what the heads of families make it. Out of

the heart are the issues of life;' and the

heart of the community, of the church, and

of the nation, is the household. The well-

being of society, the success of the church,

the prosperity of the nation, depend upon

29 ]

home influences."—The

Ministry of Healing,

page 349.

"One well-ordered, well-disciplined fam-

ily tells more in behalf of Christianity than

all the sermons that can be preached. Such a

family gives evidence that the parents have

been successful in following God's directions,

and that their children will serve Him in the

church."—The

Adventist Home,

page 32.

"The greatest evidence of the power of

Christianity that can be presented to the

world is a well-ordered, well-disciplined

family. This will recommend the truth as

nothing else can, for it is a living witness of

its practical power upon the

heart."—Testi-

monies,

vol. 4, p. 304.

THE LESSON

The Home Is of God's Planning

How, when, and by whom was

the home established? Matt. 19:4-6;

Gen. 1:28, 29.

NOTE.—"God made from the man a

woman, to be a companion and helpmeet

for him, to be one with him, to cheer, en-

courage, and bless him, he in his turn to be

her strong helper. All who enter into matri-

monial relations with a holy purpose—the

husband to obtain the pure affections of

a woman's heart, the wife to soften and

improve her husband's character and give

it completeness—fulfill God's purpose for

them."—The

Adventist Home,

page 99.

What is God's ideal for a wife

and mother? Proverbs 31:10-12, 26-28.

What is the proper relationship

between husbands and wives? Eph.

5:22-31;

Col. 3:16-19.

NOTES.—"Neither the husband nor the

wife should attempt to exercise over the

other an arbitrary control. Do not try to

compel each other to yield to your wishes.

You cannot do this and retain each other's

love. Be kind, patient, and forbearing, con-

siderate, and courteous. By the grace of God

you can succeed in making each other happy,

as in your marriage vow you promised to

do."--The Adventist Home,

page 118.

"It was not the design of God that the

husband should have control, as head of the

house, when he himself does not submit to

Christ. He must be under the rule of Christ

that he may represent the relation of Christ

to the church. If he is a coarse, rough,

boisterous, egotistical, harsh, and overbear-

ing man, let him never utter the word that

the husband is the head of the wife, and that

she must submit to him in everything. . . .

The husband is to be as a Saviour in his

family."—Ibid., p. 117.

God's Ideal of a Home

What kind of home environment

did God choose for Adam and Eve?

Gen. 2:8.

What glimpse is given of the

home life of Jesus? Luke 2:39, 40,

51, 52.

NOTE.—"Jesus . . . came as God's am-

bassador, to show us how to live so as to

secure life'

s best results. What were the con-

ditions chosen by the infinite Father for His

Son? A secluded home in the Galilean hills;

a household sustained by honest, self-re-

specting labor; a life of simplicity; daily

conflict with difficulty and hardship ; self-

sacrifice, economy, and patient, gladsome

service; the hour of study at His mother's

side, with the open scroll of Scripture ; the

quiet of dawn or twilight in the green valley ;

the holy ministries of nature; the' study of

creation and providence; and the soul's com-

munion with God,—these were the condi-

tions and opportunities of the early life

Jesus."—The Ministry of Healing,

pages

365, 366.

Doi

A TRUE CHRISTIAN HOME 15 THE

GREATEST

SERMON TO THE

WORLD.

Counsel for Parents

What is the most important fac-

tor in binding the family together?

Col. 3:13-20;

Eph. 5:25.

Noms.—"From a worldly point of view,

money is power; but from the Christian

standpoint, love is power. . . . Pure love has

special efficacy to do good, and can do noth-

ing but good. It prevents discord and misery

and brings the truest happiness. .. . Parents,

give your children love: love in babyhood,

love in childhood, love in youth. Do not

give them frowns, but ever keep a sunshiny

countenance."—The

Adventist Home,

pages

195, 196.

What special counsel is given to

fathers? Eph. 6:4;

Col.

3:21.

NOTE.—"The father of boys should come

into close contact with his sons, . . . talking

with them in such simplicity, and tenderness

that he binds them to his heart. . . . As the

priest of the household, he is accountable to

God for the 'influence that he exerts over

every member of the

family."—Counsels to

Parents and Teachers,

page 128.

What happens when children are

'left alone? Prov. 29:15.

What commandment did God

give to Israel concerning the instruc-

tion of their children? Deut. 6:4-9;

Ps. 78:4, 6.

10.

What high estimate does Jesus

place upon children? Matt. 18:2-6,

10, 14.

NOTE.—"Parents should explain and sim-

plify the plan of salvation to their children

that their young minds may comprehend it.

Children of eight, ten, or twelve Years are

old

enough to be addressed on the subject of per-

sonal religion. Do not teach your children

with reference to some future period when

they shall be old enough to repent and be-

lieve the truth. If properly instructed, very

young children may have correct views of

their state as sinners and of the way of sal-

vation through

Christ."—Testimonies, vol.

p. 400.

Counsel for Children

11.

What two great principles are

always found in good and noble chil-

dren? Eph. 6:1-3; Ex. 20:12.

SABBATH-SCHOOL LESSONS IN BRAILLE

The senior Sabbath-school lessons, slightly condensed, are

published each quarter in Braille, and they are supplied free

to the blind upon request. Address: The Christian Record

Benevolent Association, Box 66, Lincoln 6, Nebraska.

[ 31 ]

12.

Where should children mani-

fest their best behavior?. 1 Tim. 5:4.

13.

What gracious and tender invi-

tation of Jesus should children heed?

Matt. 19:14.

The Influence of a Christian Home

14.

What is God's ideal for young

and old in maintaining a happy home?

Titus 2:2-9;

Eph. 4:31, 32.

15.

What worthy example did

Abraham set us in this regard? Gen.

18:19.

NOTE.

-"God

called Abraham to be a

teacher of His word, He chose him to be the

father of a great nation, because He saw that

Abraham would instruct his children and his

household in the principles of God's law.

And that which gave power to Abraham's

teaching was the influence of his own life.

His great household consisted of more than

a thousand souls, many of them heads of

families, and not a few but newly converted

from heathenism. Such a household required

a firm hand at the helm. No weak, vacillat-

ing methods would suffice. Of Abraham God

said, 'I know him, that he will command his

children and his household after him.' Gen.

18:19. Yet his authority was exercised with

such wisdom and tenderness that hearts were

won."-Education,

page 187.

Conclusions and Convictions

To a large extent we are what our

homes have made us.

A home, to be a Christian home, must

have Christ abiding there. Jesus makes the

difference.

"Pleasant voices, gentle manners, and

sincere affection that finds expression in all

the actions, together with industry, neat-

ness, and economy, make even a hovel the

happiest of homes. The Creator regards such

a home with approbation."-The

Advent-

ist Home,

page 422.

"In His wisdom the Lord has decreed

that the family shall be the greatest of all

educational agencies."-Counsels

to Parents

and Teachers,

page 107.

Lesson 10, for March 6, 1954

The Christian's Friends and Recreation

MEMORY VERSE:

"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there

is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Prov.

18:24.

STUDY HELP:

"The Adventist Home," pages 403-430.

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

1. Sabbath afternoon: Survey the les-

Read suggested lesson help.

son, following the outline.

Ques. 11, 12; Conclusions and Con-

Key Thought; Ques. 1-4.

victions.

Ques. 5-7.

Review the entire lesson.

Ques. 8-10.

Lesson Outline:

I. We Must and Will Have Friends

1. Principles

Christian friendships.

[32

The influence of friends.

The secret of having friends.

Be not yoked with unbelievers.

II. True Love the Basis of Friendship

The foundation of true friendships.

The sign of a true friend.

The meaning of love.

How to choose a life companion.

III. The Social Life of Jesus

Jesus the wedding guest.

Jesus the dinner guest.

Jesus in the home of His friends.

IV. Christian Recreation

Come apart and rest.

Instruction to youth on recreation.

Key Thought:

"It is natural to seek companionship.

Everyone will find companions or make

them. And just in proportion to the strength

of the friendship, will be the amount of in-

fluence which friends will exert over one

another for good or for evil. All will have

associates, and will influence and be in-

fluenced in their turn.

"The link is a mysterious one which binds

human hearts together, so that the feelings,

tastes, and principles of two individuals are

closely blended. One catches the spirit, and

copies the ways and acts, of the other. As

wax retains the figure of the seal, so the

mind retains the impression produced by

intercourse and association. The influence

may be unconscious, yet it is no•less power-

ful."—Testimonies,

vol. 4, p. 587.

THE LESSON

We Must and Will Have Friends

1. What basic principle should

•

guide the Christian in the forming

of his friendships? James 4:4;

Prov.

22:24; Rom. 14:7.

NorE.—"All will have associates and will

influence and be influenced in their turn.. ..

The company they keep, the principles they

adopt, the habits they form, will decide the

question of their usefulness here and of

their future destiny."—The

Adventist Home,

page 455.

2. What are some of the results of

association? Prov. 13:20;

1 Cor. 15:33.

NorE.—"It is inevitable that the youth

will haire associates, and they will necessarily

feel their influence. There are mysterious

links that bind souls together so that the

heart of one answers to the heart of another.

One catches the ideas, the sentiments, the

spirit, of another. This association may be

a blessing or a curse. . . . It has been truly

said, 'Show me your company, and I will

show you your character. "

—The Adventist

Home,

pages 455, 456.

What is the secret of having

friends? Prov. 18:24.

NorEs.—Remember, "the best friend to

have is Jesus." "Make Christ first and last

and best in everything."

"As the social and generous impulses are

repressed, they wither, and the heart be-

comes desolate and cold. . . . Love cannot

long exist without expression. Let not the

heart of one connected with you starve for

the want of kindness and sympathy."—The

Ministry of Healing,

page 360.

What care should be exercised in

the selection of lasting friendships?

2 Cor. 6:14;

Amos 3:3.

NOTE.—"We are not to associate with

the ungodly and partake of their spirit, for

they will lead the heart away from God to

the worship of false gods."—The

Adventist

Home,

page 459.

True Love the Basis of Friendship

What was the foundation of Da-

vid and Jonathan's friendship? 1 Sam.

18:1, 4.

[

]

WHICH WAY DO YOUR FRIENDS

WANT YOU TO

GO?

NOTE.—"Love

will not be a mere ex-

change of soft and flattering words. . . .

Heart will be bound to heart in the golden

bonds of a love that is enduring."—The

Ministry of Healing,

page 362.

What is the sign of a true friend?

Prov. 17:17;

Ruth 1:16-18.

NOTE.—"Those

who are themselves 'com-

passed with infirmity' should be able to

`have compassion on the ignorant, and on

them that are out of the way.' Heb. 5:2.

Having been in peril themselves, they are

acquainted with the dangers and difficulties

of the way, and for this reason are called to

reach out for others in like peril. There are

souls perplexed with doubt, burdened with

infirmities, weak in faith, and unable to

grasp the Unseen; but a friend whom they

can see, coming to them in Christ's stead,

can be a connecting link to fasten their

trembling faith upon Christ."—The

Desire

of Ages,

page 297.

What is the real meaning of

love? 1 Cor. 13:4-8.

Nom—Here are some questions to ask in

choosing a lifelong friend:

"Is your fiancé (or fiancée) usually happy,

cheerful, and optimistic? . . .

"Can he discuss controversial questions

without indulging in heated arguments?

"Are his emotions stable?

"Is he conservative in matters of morals,

politics, and finance?

"Does he co-operate easily with others

and work smoothly with his superiors?

"Is he benevolent toward his inferiors

and does he delight in assisting the under-

privileged?

"Is he able to receive advice graciously?

"Does he give careful attention to the de-

tails of his daily work?

"Is he willing to take responsibility, and

has he succeeded thus far in his business ven-

tures and enterprises?

"Is he fond of children?

"Is he religious and is his religion the same

as yours?

"Do you love him in spite of his faults? ...

"Do you take pride in your fiance?"—

Harold Shryock, M.D.,

Happiness for Hus- •

bands and Wives,

page 28.

The Social Life of Jesus Our Example

Under what circumstances was

the first miracle performed by Christ?

John 2:1-11.

NOTE.—"In the festal hall where friends

and kindred rejoice together, Christ be-

gan His public ministry."—The

Ministry of

Healing,

page 356.

What other instances are re-

corded of the social life of Jesus? Luke

19:1

10;

Matt. 9:9-13.

NOTE.—"The

entertainment was given in

honor of Jesus, and He did not hesitate to

"Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him

give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful

giver." 2 Corinthians 9:7.

[34]

accept the courtesy. . . . Jesus sat as an

honored guest at the table of the publicans,

by His sympathy and social kindliness show-

ing that He recognized the dignity of hu-

manity; and men longed to become worthy

of His confidence."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 274.

10.

In whose home was Jesus a

frequent guest? Luke 10:38-42;

John

11:1-6, 21, 34-36.

NOTE.—"What a busy life He led! Day by

day He might have been seen entering the

humble abodes of want and sorrow, speaking

hope to the downcast, and peace to the dis-

tressed. Gracious, tenderhearted, pitiful, He

went about lifting up the bowed-down and

comforting the sorrowful. Wherever He

went, He carried blessing.

"While He ministered to the poor, Jesus

studied also to find ways of reaching the

rich. He sought the acquaintance of the

wealthy and cultured Pharisee, the Jewish

nobleman, and the Roman ruler. He accepted

their invitations, attended their feasts, made

Himself familiar with their interests and oc-

cupations, that He might gain access to their

hearts, and reveal to them the imperishable

riches."—The

Ministry of Healing,

pages

24, 25.

Christian Recreation

11.

How did Christ teach His dis-

ciples that they could not and should

not work all the time? Mark 6:31.

NOTE.—"Christ is full of tenderness and

compassion for all in His service. He would

show His disciples that God does not require

sacrifice, but mercy. . . .

"The rest which Christ and His disciples

took was not self-indulgent rest. The time

they spent in retirement was not devoted to

pleasure making. . . . It is not wise to be

always under the strain of work and excite-

ment, even in ministering to man's spiritual

needs; for in this way personal piety is neg-

lected, and the powers of mind and soul and

body are overtaxed."—The

Desire of Ages,

pages 360-362.

12.

In all our enjoyment, what

should we remember? Eccl. 11:9, 10;

12:1.

NOTES.—"It is the privilege and duty of

Christians to seek to refresh their spirits and

invigorate their bodies by innocent recre-

ation."—The

Adventist Home,

page 493.

"Our recreations should not be scenes of

senseless mirth, taking the form of the non-

sensical. We can conduct them in such a

manner as will benefit and elevate those with

whom we associate, and better qualify us

and them to more successfully attend to the

duties devolving upon us as Christians."

—Ibid.

"Recreation is needful to those who are

engaged in physical labor and is still more

essential for those whose labor is principally

mental."—Ibid., p. 494.

Conclusions and Convictions

It is right and proper for Christians

to have friends, but let them be

Christian

friends.

It is entirely proper for Christians to

have recreation, but let it be

Christian recre-

ation.

Jesus was social to save—so may we be.

There are certain kinds of people with

whom Christians cannot associate. There

are certain types of recreation in which the

Christian cannot engage.

What would Jesus do? Christians are

safe in doing as Jesus would do.

The senior "Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly" is published in

the following foreign languages: Bohemian, Danish-Norwegian,

German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Slovakian,

Spanish, Swedish, Ukrainian, and Yugoslavian. Write to the Inter-

national Branch of the Pacific Press at Brookfield, Illinois, for any

of these quarterlies for the strangers within your gates.

33-1

Lesson 11, for March 13, 1954

The Christian and His Church

MEMORY VERSE:

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but

fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are- built

upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being

the chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth

unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for

an habitation of God through the Spirit." Eph. 2:19-22.

STUDY HELP:

"Christ's Object Lessons," pages 309-345 (new ed., pp. 315-349).

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: Survey the les- 4. Ques. 7-9.

son, following the outline.



5. Ques. 10-12.

Key Thought; Ques. 1-4.



6. Read remainder of study help; Con-

Ques. 5, 6; read portion of suggested



clusions and Convictions.

study help.



7. Review the entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

I. The Meaning of "The Church"

The church in the Old Testament.

The church in the New Testament.

Called out of the world.

Regard for the church of God.

II. Joining the Church

Becoming a member of God's church.

The process of regeneration.

III. The Work of the Church

God's purpose for His church in Old

Testament times.

The chief service of the church.

"Ye are My witnesses."

IV. The Support of the Church

God's basic plan.

Example of liberality.

Cheerful givers.

Key Thought:

"During ages of spiritual darkness, the

church of God has been as a city set on a hill.

From age to age, through successive genera-

tions, the pure doctrines of heaven have been

unfolding within its borders. Enfeebled and

defective as it may appear, the church is the

one object upon which God bestows in a

special sense His supreme regard. It is the

theater of His grace, in which He delights to

reveal His power to transform hearts."-

The Acts of the Apostles,

page 12.

THE LESSON

The Meaning of "The Church"

What was the assembly of God's

people called in Old Testament times?

Deut. 5:22; Acts 7:38; Ezra 10:12.

How were these assemblies desig-

nated in the New Testament? Acts

11:26; 14:27;

1 Cor. 14:23; 1 Thess.

1:1; 1 Peter 2:9, 10.

NOTE.

-Som

eone has said, "The church is

never a place, but always a people; never a

fold, but always a flock; never a sacred

building, but always a believing assembly.

The church is you who pray, not where you

pray." The church is an assembly or society

or community of called-out-ones.

What experience must come to

all who become members of "the

church"? 2 Cor. 6:16-18;

Rev. 18:4;

Rom. 1:6, 7.

[

36]

)

WHAT DOES THE CHURCH MEAN TO

YOU AS MEASURED BY

YOUR GIFTS ?

4. With what regard should the

house of the Lord and the congre-

gation of His people be held? Lev.

19:30; Matt. 18:17;

1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Cor.

12:25-27.

NOTE.—"Christ

designs that heaven's or-

der, heaven's plan of government, heaven's

divine harmony, shall be represented in His

church on earth. Thus in His people He is

glorified. Through them the Sun of Right-

eousness will shine in undimmed luster to

the world."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 680.

Joining the Church

5. How does a man become a mem-

ber of God's church? Acts 2:41, 47;

16:31-34.

NOTE.—The

steps by which one becomes

a Christian and a full member of the church

are outlined in the Bible as follows:

Come to Christ. Matt. 11:28.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."

Acts 16:31-34.

Repent—be converted. Acts 3:19.

Be baptized. Acts 2:38.

Old man must be crucified. Rom. 6:6.

Become dead to sin, alive unto God.

Rom. 6:11.

Be free from sin and become servant of

righteousness. Rom. 6:17, 18.

This brings holiness 'and everlasting

life. Rom. 6:22, 23.

This makes him a member of "the

household of God." Eph. 2:19.

6. How does Paul describe the proc-

ess of regeneration? Rom. 12:1, 2.

NOTE.—Ro

12:1, 2. The Christian's

consecration.

The appeal—"I beseech you."

The act—To "present your bodies."

The sacrifice—"A living sacrifice, holy, ac-

ceptable."

The reason—"Your reasonable service."

The method—"Be not conformed to this

world."

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of

your mind."

The result—"That ye may prove what is

that good, and acceptable, and per-

fect, will of God."

The Work of the ChurCh

What was God's purpose for

His church in Old Testament times?

Gen. 12:1

Compare Ezek. 34:26,

29-31.

NoTE.—"God's church is the court of holy

life, filled with varied gifts, and endowed

with the Holy Spirit. The members are to

find their happiness in the happiness of those

whom they help and bless.

"Wonderful is the work which the Lord

designs to accomplish through His church,

that His name may be glorified. . . . From

the beginning God has wrought through His

people to bring blessing to the world."—The

Acts of the Apostles,

pages 12, 13.

What is the chief service the

church must render to the world?

Matt. 28:19, 20;

Isa. 56:7.

[

37]

NOTE.—"The church is God's appointed

agency for the salvation of men. It was or-

ganized for service, and its mission is to

carry the gospel to the world. From the be-

ginning it has been God's plan that through

His church shall be reflected to the world His

fullness and His sufficiency. The members of

the church, those whom He has called out of

darkness into His marvelous light, are to

show forth His glory. The church is the

repository of the riches of the grace of

Christ; and through the church will even-

tually be made manifest, even to 'the princi-

palities and powers in heavenly places,' the

final and full display of the love of God."—

The Acts of the Apostles,

page 9.

What are we as members of

God's church to be and do? Isa. 43:10-

12;

42:6,7; 49:8, 9.

NOTE.—"The church is God's fortress, His

city of refuge, which He holds in a revolted

world. . . . From the beginning, faithful

souls have constituted the church on earth.

In every age the Lord has had His watch-

men, who have borne a faithful testimony to

the generation in which they lived. . . . God

brought these witnesses into covenant rela-

tion with Himself, uniting the church on

earth with the church in heaven."—The

Acts

of the Apostles,

page 11.

The Support of the Church

10.

What basic plan does God

have, to provide for His house? Mal.

3:10-12.

NOTE.—"As to the amount required, God

has specified one tenth of the increase. This

is left to the conscience and benevolence of

men, whose judgment in this tithing system

should have free play. And while it is left

free to the conscience, a plan has been laid

out definite enough for all. No compulsion is

required."—Testimonies,

vol. 3, p. 394.

11.

What example of liberality do

we find in the early apostolic church?

Acts 4:32-35;

2 Cor. 8:1-5, 7.

NOTE.—"This liberality on the part of the

believers was the result of the outpouring of

the Spirit. . . . One common interest con-

trolled them,—the success of the mission en-

trusted to them; and covetousness had no

place in their lives. Their love for their

brethren and the cause they had espoused,

was greater than their love of money and

possessions. Their works testified that they

accounted the souls of men of higher value

than earthly wealth. . . . Money, time, in-

fluence,—all the gifts they have received

from God's hand, they will value only as a

means of advancing the work of the gospel."

—The Acts of the Apostles,

pages 70, 71.

12.

In what spirit should our gifts

to God

made? 2 Cor. 9:5-7;

Luke

6:38.

NoTE.—"Unselfish liberality threw the

early church into a transport of joy; for

the believers knew that their efforts were

helping to send the gospel message to those

in darkness. Their benevolence testified that

they had not received the grace of God in

vain. What could produce such liberality

but the sanctification of the Spirit? In the

eyes of believers and unbelievers it was a

miracle of grace.

"Spiritual prosperity is closely bound up

with Christian liberality. The followers of

Christ should rejoice in the privilege of re-

vealing in their lives the beneficence of their

Redeemer. As they give to the Lord, they

have the assurance that their treasure is

going before them to the heavenly courts."

—The Acts of the Apostles,

page 344.

Conclusions and Convictions

It is a great privilege to be a Christian

and a part of the Christian church.

This privilege also carries with it cer-

tain very definite responsibilities and duties.

The real Christian never thinks of how

much he can

get

out of his church, but rather

how much he can

give

to his church.

"Not until God ceases to bless His chil-

dren will they cease to be under bonds to

return to Him the portion that He claims."

—The Acts of the Apostles,

page 339.

"God has made the proclamation of the

gospel dependent upon the labors and the

gifts of His people. Voluntary offerings and

[ 38 ]

the tithe constitute the revenue of the Lord's

work. Of the means entrusted to man, God

claims a certain portion,-the tenth. He

leaves all free to say whether or not they

will give more than this. . . . Should means

flow into the treasury in accordance with

this divinely appointed plan,-a tenth of

all the increase, and liberal offerings,-there

would be an abundance for the advancement

of the Lord's work."-/bid., pp. 74, 75.

Lesson 12, for March 20, 1954

The Christian and His Community

MEMORY VERSE:

"Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared

for you from the foundation of the world: for I was anhungered, and ye

gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye

took Me

in:

naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me:

was in

prison, and ye came unto Me." Matt. 25:34-36.

STUDY HELP:

"Welfare Ministry," pgges 29-42.

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: Survey the les-



5. Ques. 12-14.

son, following the outline.



6. Read selections from suggested study

Key Thought; Ques. 1-3.



help; Conclusions and Convictions.

Ques. 4-7.



7. Review the entire lesson.

Ques. 8-11.

Lesson Outline:

I. The Christian's Influence in His

Community

God's children to be lights.

Living to the glory of God.

Abounding in good works.

II. Alleviating Poverty and Suffering

Attitude toward the poor.

God's plan for alleviating poverty

and suffering.

More blessed to give.

A curse follows failure to give.

III. The Christian's Responsibility for

Others

1. Am I

my brother's keeper?

Ye have done it unto Me.

Christ's mission.

Influence of Christian welfare work.

IV. Be Ye Kind

Christ's method.

Who is my neighbor?

Promise to those who show kindness.

Key Thought:

"Sin has extinguished the love that God

placed in man's heart. The work of the

church is to rekindle this love. The church

is to co-operate with God by uprooting

selfishness from the human heart, placing in

its stead the benevolence that was in man's

heart in his original state of perfection."-

Welfare Ministry,

page 14.

THE LESSON

The Christian's Influence in

His Community

1. What are God's children to be

to the community? Matt. 5:14-16;

Phil. 2:15.

NOTE.

-"All

who are consecrated to God

will be channels of light. God makes them

His agents to communicate to others the

riches of His grace. His promise is, 'I will

make them and the places round about My

hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower

[39]

THE CHURCH IS

TO BE THE.

GOSPEL OF CHRIST

IN ACTION.

to come down in his season; there shall be

showers of blessing.' Ezek. 34:26.

"Philip said to Nathanael, 'Come and see.'

He did not ask him to accept another's testi-

mony, but to behold Christ for himself. Now

that Jesus has ascended to heaven, His dis-

ciples are His representatives among men,

and one of the most effective ways of win-

ning souls to Him is in exemplifying His

character in our daily life. Our influence

upon others depends not so much upon what

we say as upon what we

are."—The Desire

of Ages,

pages 141, 142.

What will be the Christian's in-

fluence? 1 Peter 2:9, 12.

In what will the Christian

fruitful? Col. 1:10;

2 Cor. 9:8.

NoTE.—"As soon as she had found the

Saviour the Samaritan woman brought oth-

ers to Him. She proved herself a more ef-

fective missionary than His own disciples.

The disciples saw nothing in Samaria to

indicate that it was an encouraging field.

Their thoughts were fixed upon a great work

to be done in the future. They did not see

that right around them was a harvest to be

gathered. But through the woman whom

they despised, a whole cityful were brought

to hear the Saviour. She carried the light at

once to her countrymen.

"This woman represents the working of a

practical faith in Christ. Every true disciple

is born into the kingdom of God as a mis-

sionary. He who drinks of the living water

becomes a fountain of life. The receiver be-

comes a giver. The grace of Christ in the

soul is like a spring in the desert, welling up

to refresh all, and making those who are

ready to perish eager to drink of the water

of life."—The

Desire of Ages,

page 195.

Alleviating Poverty and Suffering

What instruction concerning the

poor has the Lord given? Deut. 15:11;

John 12:8.

NOTE.—"There are many who complain of

God because the world is so full of want and

suffering, but God never meant that this

misery should exist. He never meant that

one man should have an abundance of the

luxuries of life while the children of others

cry for bread. The Lord is a God of be-

nevolence."—Testimonies,

vol. 6, p. 273.

How does God further instruct

His children in the alleviation of pov-

erty and suffering? Isa. 58:7;

Matt.

25:35, 36.

NOTE.—"The Lord has made ample pro-

vision for all. He has given to thousands of

men large supplies with which to alleviate

the want of their fellows; but those whom

God has made stewards have not stood the

'test, for they have failed to relieve the suf-

fering and the needy. . . . If men would

do their duty as faithful stewards of their

Lord's goods, there would be no cry for

bread, none suffering in destitution, none

naked and in

want."—Welfare Ministry,

page

16.

What is the reward of true be-

nevolence? Acts 20:35;

Matt. 5:7.

[ 40 ]

NOTE.—"While the world needs sympathy,

while it needs the prayers and assistance of

God's people, while it needs to see Christ in

the lives of His followers, the people of God

are equally in need of opportunities that

draw out their sympathies, give efficiency to

their prayers, and develop in them a charac-

ter like that of the divine pattern."—Testi-

monies,

vol. 6, p. 261.

What is said of those who fail

to use their means in harmony with

God's plan? James 5:1-6.

NOTE.—"It is because the rich neglect to

do the work for the poor that God designed

they should do, that they grow more proud,

more self-sufficient, more self-indulgent, and

hardhearted."—Welfare

Ministry,

page 19.

The Christian's Responsibility

for Others

What lessons should we learn

from the experience of Cain? Gen.

4:9, 10;

1 John 3:11, 12.

Nora.—"God designs that the sick, the

unfortunate, those possessed of evil spirits,

shall hear His voice through us. Through His

human agents He desires to be a comforter,

such as the world has never before seen."—

Welfare Ministry,

page 22.

In what way does Christ identify

Himself with the poor and needy?

Matt. 25:40.

Compare Prov. 19:17.

NoTE.—"Christ's servants are His repre-

sentatives, the channels for His working. He

desires through them to exercise His healing

power."—The

Desire of Ages,

pages 823, 824.

10.

How did Christ state His mis-

sion? Luke 4:18, 19;

Mark 10:45.

Nozz.—"The world is in need of workers

who will labor as Christ did for the suffering

and the sinful. There is indeed a multitude

to be reached. The world is full of sickness,

suffering, distress, and sin. It is full of those

who need to be ministered unto—the weak,

the helpless, the ignorant, the degraded."—

Testimonies,

vol. 6, p. 254.

11.

What are the far-reaching in-

fluences of Christian welfare work?

2 Cor. 9:11-14.

NOTE.—Phillips's translation reads thus:

"Your giving does not end in meeting the

wants of your fellow Christians. It also

results in an ever-flowing tide of thanks-

giving to God. Moreover, your very giving

proves the reality of your faith, and that

means that men thank God that you practice

the gospel."

Let the church beware lest it lose com-

pletely its most effective key to open the

hearts of non-Christians to the gospel.

"Be Ye Kind"

12.

What practical demonstration

of Christian service is revealed in the

ministry of Christ? Matt.

25;

Mark 12:37, last part.

NOTE.—"Christ's way of presenting truth

cannot be improved upon. The Saviour gave

the cEsciples practical lessons, teaching them

how to work in such a way as to make souls

glad in the truth. He sympathized with the

weary, the heavy-laden, the oppressed. He

fed the hungry and healed the sick. Con-

stantly He went about doing good. By the

good He accomplished, by His loving words

and kindly deeds, He interpreted the gospel

men."—Welfare Ministry,

page 56.

13.

To whom should we be kind?

Luke 10:29-37;

6:27-36.

NoTE.

—

"He showed that our neighbor

[41]

does not mean merely one of the church or

faith to which we belong. It has no reference

to race, color, or class distinction. Our neigh-

bor is every person who needs our help."-

Christ's Object Lessons,

page 376 (new ed.,

pp. 381, 382).

14. What promises are given to

those who are actuated by a charitable

spirit? Isa. 58:7-11.

Conclusions and Convictions

The Christian is placed in his com-

munity as a "light."

The Christian lives in his community to

represent Christ to his neighbors.

The reward for kindness in service

will be the blessing of God and an inherit-

ance in God's everlasting kingdom. (Matt.

25:34-36.)

Lesson 13, for March 27, 1954

The Christian and His Eternal Reward

MEMORY VERSE:

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the

heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

1 Cor. 2:9.

STUDY HELPS:

"Testimonies," vol. 1, pp

. 127-131; "Prophets and Kings," pages

729-733.

DAILY STUDY ASSIGNMENT

Sabbath afternoon: Survey the les-

son, following the outline.

Key Thought; Ques. 1-3.

3. Ques. 4-6.

Ques. 7-10.

Read the suggested study helps.

Ques. 11-13; Conclusions and Con-

victions.

Review the entire lesson.

Lesson Outline:

I. The Promised Possession

The promise to Abraham.

Restoration of first dominion.

Promise to disciples.

Our inheritance assured.

Our attitude.

II.

That Better Country

The earth created not in vain.

The constant hope of God's people.

Isaiah's description of the new earth.

John's description of the Holy City.

Sorrow and suffering no more.

III. We Must Be There

Our limited comprehension.

Our preparation.

Christ's welcome to the saved.

Key Thought:

"The condition of eternal life is now just

what it always has been,-just what it was

in Paradise before the fall of our first par-

ents,-perfect obedience to the law of God,

perfect righteousness. If eternal life were

granted on any condition short of this, then

the happiness of the whole universe would

be imperiled. The way would be open for

sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to

be immortalized."-Steps

to Christ,

page 67.

THE LESSON

The Promised Possession

1. What promise of eternal inher-

itance was made to Abraham? Gen.

13:14, 15; Gal. 3:16.

NoTE.-"The heritage that God has prom-

ised to His people is not in this world. Abra-

ham had no possession in the earth, 'no, not

so much as to set his foot on.' . . . His sole

possession in the Land of Promise was that

[ 42 ]

HEAVEN'S GATES WILL OPEN TO

THE TOUCH OF A LITTLE CHILD

WITH A HEART OF LOVE.

rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah.

"But the word of God had not failed;

neither did it meet its final accomplishment

in the occupation of Canaan by the Jewish

people. 'To Abraham and his seed were the

promises made.' Abraham himself was to

share the inheritance. The fulfillment of

God's promise may seem to be long delayed.

. . . The gift to Abraham and his seed in-

cluded not merely the land of Canaan, but

the whole earth."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

pages 169, 170.

To whom was the first dominion

to be restored? Micah 4:8.

NOTE.—"When

man became Satan's cap-

tive, the dominion which he held, passed to

his conqueror. Thus Satan became 'the god

of this world.' He had usurped that domin-

ion over the earth which had been originally

given to Adam. But Christ, by His sacri-

fice paying the penalty of sin, would not

only redeem man, but recover the dominion

which he had forfeited. All that was lost by

the first Adam will be restored by the sec-

ond."—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 67.

What comforting promise did

Jesus make to His disciples? John

14:1-3.

NOTE.—"Long

have we waited for our

Saviour's return. But nonetheless sure is the

promise. Soon we shall be in our promised

home. There Jesus will lead us beside the liv-

ing stream flowing from the throne of God

and will explain to us the dark providences

through which on this earth He brought us

in order to perfect our characters. There

we shall behold with undimmed vision the

beauties of Eden

restored."—Testimonies,

vol. 8, p. 254.

should be our attitude? 2 Peter 3:13;

Heb. 10:23, 35.

That Better Country

In what words are we assured

that God's original purpose for this

earth will not be in vain? Isa. 45:18.

NoTE.—"God created the earth to be the

abode of holy, happy beings. The Lord

`formed the earth and made it; He bath

established it, He created it not in vain, He

formed it to be inhabited.' That purpose will

be fulfilled, when, renewed by the power of

God, and freed from sin and sorrow, it shall

become the eternal abode of the redeemed."

—Patriarchs and Prophets,

page 67.

What has been the buoyant hope

of God's people down through the

ages? Heb. 11:10, 13-16.

Through whom is our inherit-

ance assured? Eph. 1:13, 14.

NoTE.—" '0 tower of the flock, the strong-

hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall

it come, even the first dominion.' The time

has come, to which holy men have looked

In view of Christ's promise, what . with longing since the flaming sword barred

[ 43 1

the first pair from Eden,—the time for 'the

redemption of the purchased possession.'

The earth originally given to man as his

kingdom, betrayed by him into the hands of

Satan, and so long held by the mighty foe,

has been brought back by the great plan of

redemption. All that was lost by sin has

been restored. . . . God's original purpose in

the creation of the earth is, fulfilled as it is

made the eternal abode of the redeemed.

`The righteous shall inherit the land, and

dwell therein forever.'

"—The Great Con-

troversy,

page 674.

Describe some of the glories of

the new earth. Isa. 65:17, 21, 22, 25;

11:6-9; 35:1, 2, 7-9.

NOTE.—"A fear of making the future

in-

heritance

seem too material has led many to

spiritualize away the very truths which lead

us to look upon it as our home. Christ as-

sured His disciples that He went to prepare

mansions for them in the Father's house.

Those who accept the teachings of God's

word will not be wholly ignorant concerning

the heavenly abode."—The

Great Contro-

versy,

pages 674, 675.

In what sublime language does

John describe the City of God? Rev.

21:1-3, 10-27.

NOTE.—"There, immortal minds will con-

template with never-failing delight the won-

ders of creative power, the mysteries of

redeeming love. There will be no cruel,

deceiving foe to tempt to forgetfulness of

God. Every faculty will be developed, every

capacity increased. The acquirement of

knowledge will not weary the mind or ex-

haust the energies. There the grandest enter-

prises may be carried forward, the loftiest

aspirations reached, the highest ambitions

realized; and still there will arise new heights

to surmount, new wonders to admire, new

truths to comprehend, fresh objects to call

forth the powers of mind and soul and

body."—The

Great Controversy,

page 677.

10.

What unhappy experiences will

never mar the joys of the new earth?

Isa. 33:24; Rev. 21:4;

7:17.

NOTE.—"Pain cannot exist in the atmos-

phere of heaven. There will be no more

tears, no funeral trains, no badges of mourn-

ing. 'There shall be no more death, neither

sorrow, nor crying, . . . for the former

things are passed away.' The inhabitant

shall not say, I am sick: the people that

dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.'

"There is the New Jerusalem, the me-

tropolis of the glorified new earth, 'a crown

of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal

diadem in the hand of thy

God.'"—The

Great Controversy,

page 676.

We Must Be There

11.

How limited is the human mind

in comprehending all that God has

prepared for those who love Him?

1 Cor. 2:9.

NOTE.—"As your senses delight in the at-

tractive loveliness of the earth, think of the

world that is to come, that shall never know

the blight of sin and death; where the face

of nature will no more wear the shadow of

the curse. Let your imagination picture the

home of the saved, and remember that it will

be more glorious than your brightest imagi-

nation can portray. In the varied gifts of

God in nature we see but the faintest gleam-

ing of His glory. It is written, 'Eye bath not

seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered

into the heart of man, the things which God

hath prepared for them that love Him.'

"—

Steps to Christ,

page 91.

12.

How are we admonished to pre-

pare ourselves for the coming of

Christ's kingdom? 2 Peter 3:14.

13.

With what words will Jesus

welcome those who are found worthy

to enter the home He has prepared?

. Matt. 25:34.

[44]

NOTE.—"Better than all the friendship of

the world is the friendship of Christ's re-

deemed. Better than a title to the noblest

palace on earth is a title to the mansions our

Lord has gone to prepare. And better than

all the words of earthly praise, will be the

Saviour's words to His faithful servants,

`Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the

kingdom prepared for you from the founda-

tion of the world.'

"—Christ's Object Les-

sons,

page 374 (new ed., p. 379).

Conclusions and Convictions

The road we choose to follow in this

life will determine our future destiny.

Like Abraham of old, by faith we seek

that "better country" and that city "whose

builder and maker is God."

If we are to enter heaven at last, we

must bring all of heaven into this life that

we can.

"If you are to be saints in heaven, you

must first be saints upon the

earth."—Testi-

monies to Ministers,

page 145.

The Christian's problem is not so much

a matter of how to get a man into heaven

by and by, as it is how to get heaven into a

man here and now.

"Heaven's golden gate opens not to the

self-exalted. . . . But the everlasting portals

will open wide to the trembling touch of a

little

child."—Christ's Object Lessons,

page

404 (new ed., p. 413).

SPECIAL

NOTICE

The

Teacher's Edition

of the Senior

Sabbath School Lesson Quarterly

is now available. Because of the many requests received from Sabbath-

school members everywhere, it is once more making its appearance. The

first-quarter issue of 1954 is the first edition printed.

For the convenience of Sabbath-school teachers, officers, and other

members one full blank page is provided for every page of lesson copy.

Thus ample space is given so that the answers to questions and additional

notes may be written.

PRICES

Yearly subscription (in either singles or clubs)



Each, $ .75

Standing orders (in club subscription only)

Each, $ .25

Single copy



EaCh, $. .25

Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View,

[45

]

For Every Sabbath

School Teacher

and Class Member

THREE LIONS

A major source for the notes and study helps in our Sabbath-

school lessons from quarter to quarter is the spirit of ,prophecy.

Some of these indispensable volumes which should be in every

Sabbath-school member's library for easy reference are:

The CONFLICT of the AGES Series

PATRIARCHS and PROPHETS

PROPHETS and KINGS

The DESIRE of AGES

The ACTS of the APOSTLES

The GREAT CONTROVERSY

TESTIMONIES for the CHURCH

TESTIMONY TREASURES

CHRIST'S OBJECT LESSONS

EARLY WRITINGS

[46]

EDUCATION

EVANGELISM

GOSPEL WORKERS

INDEX to the WRITINGS of

ELLEN G. WHITE

MESSAGES to YOUNG PEOPLE

The MINISTRY of HEALING

STEPS to CHRIST

THOUGHTS From the MOUNT

of BLESSING

THIRTEENTH SABBATH OFFERING

March 27, 1954 — South American Division

The South American Division is the field to benefit from the Thir-

teenth Sabbath Offering overflow this quarter. The South American

Division is one of our largest divisions, and within its territory is the

largest European population south of the equator. One of their urgent

needs is to train young people to carry on the work in the different

countries of this great field. Many schools have been established, and

they are full to overflowing with students. But facilities and equipment

in many of these schools .are altogether inadequate. Therefore the over-

flow from the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering this quarter will help to

provide a boys' :dormitory at each of our academies in the South Brazil

Union.

The medical missionary work done on the rivers of South America

is one of the most effective pieces of missionary work we know of. This

quarter we will help to add another launch to our medical-evangelistic

fleet—this one to operate on the Araguaia River. South America is look-

ing to our Sabbath schools around the world for this much-needed

help on March 27.

LESSONS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1954

Sabbath-school members who have failed to receive a senior

Lesson Quarterly

for the second quarter will be helped by the following outline in studying the

first lesson. They will thus be able to follow the daily study of the lesson.

The general topic of the lesson is "Love." The first lesson is entitled "The

Way of Love." The memory verse is 1 John 4:7, 8. The study helps are:

The

Acts of the Apostles,

pages 70-76;

Christ's Object Lessons,

pages 260-267, 327,

328 ;

Love,

by Taylor G. Bunch, pages 9-13. The texts to be studied are:

Ques. 1. Ex. 20:17 ; Rom. 7:7.



Ques. 8. 1 Cor. 12:31 ; 13.

Ques. 2. Eph. 5:3-5.



Ques. 9. Gal. 5:22, 23 ; Rom. 5:5, last part.

Ques. 3. 1 Cor. 12:31.



Ques. 10. 1 John 4:7, 8, 16.

Ques. 4. 1 Cor. 14:1.



Ques. 11. Matt. 24:9-12.

Ques. 5. Eph. 4:8, 11-15.



Ques. 12. 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

Ques. 6. 1 Cor. 1:6-8; Rev. 12:17.



Ques. 13. Luke 21:25-27.

Ques. 7. 1 Cor. 12 :1, 4, 7-12, 14-25.



Ques. 14. 1 John 4:17,18.

[47]

ARAGUAIA RIVER '

MEDICAL LAUNCH

•

••• • ••••

RIP

RE=LT

SOUTH BRAZIL UNION

CONFERENCE

4,)



•J

•



. •



l 4

•



t . 41

'' %



' ‘



. y

1.4444411



40+



)



...,,



44,

.,,



CAMPO GRANDE



... - --

... „/



PARANA.SANTA

'7° PA"

# .

,..,..

CATARINA i

ASUNCION

)



LIMNER

CONFERENCE

AD ••.,

.--.-_••••

...-4%I

llu



',,

TAW

RIO GRANDE DO SUL '

•

CONFERENCE

•

,) 5710 PAULO

‘

,./-........CONFERENCE

A—

/RIO DE N.011 0

TAQUARA ACADEMY

BOYS' DORMITORY

•

ItEciFE

•

SAO PAULO ACADEMY

BOYS' DORMITORY

PARANA ACADEMY

BOYS' DORMITORY

MON

•



•

TIMM AIRES

SOUTH AMERICAN DIVISION

CONFERENCE



POPULATION



CHURCHES 01.6101.



SS. MEN.

AUSTRAL UNION



25,104,425



135



13,971



15,549



CAST BRAZIL UNION M. 26.605,419



9,640



14,800

INCA UNION M.



14910,953



17,540



23,132

/NORTH BRAZIL UNION



5950,461



1,876



2,862

SOUTH BRAZIL UNION



15,153.724



13260



26,609

DIVISION TOTALS



97,634,982



352



61,287



82,952